Saturday, October 19, 2002, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Decision to freeze DA, bonus deferred
New Delhi, October 18 Government employees are likely to receive DA and bonus in accordance to earlier norms as the meeting of the state Chief Ministers Finance Ministers today failed to arrive at a consensus on the ticklish issue of freezing the DA.   No cut in PF rate	Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh at the Chief Ministers’ meeting on the fiscal situation of states in New Delhi on Friday. — PTI photo

Sachin Tendulkar became the first batsman to complete 20,000 runs when he reached 16 in the second Test match between India and the West Indies in Chennai on Friday. — Reuters

Vajpayee calls for consensus on core issues
New Delhi, October 18
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today underlined the need for hammering out a political consensus and convergence of views between the Centre and the states on critical issues pertaining to development and governance.

Saxena ‘bowed under BJP pressure’
Cong renews efforts to persuade Mufti
Srinagar, October 18
Having taken by surprise, most of the parties except the National Conference have accused the Governor, Mr G. C Saxena, of succumbing to the pressure of the BJP-led Central government and suddenly imposing the Governor’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir by violating his own deadline of October 21 set for any party to stake claim to form a government in the state.

Sena chief not to seek bail
Mumbai, October 18
Fully standing by his Dasehra rally speech containing anti-Muslim remarks, Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray said today that he would not seek anticipatory bail in the criminal case registered against him and blamed Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and not his bete noire Chhagan Bhujbal for the decision to proceed against him.
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Himachal Governor’s nod to prosecute Virbhadra
Shimla, October 18
The Governor, Dr Suraj Bhan, is learnt to have granted the mandatory sanction to prosecute Mr Virbhadra Singh, Leader of the Legislature Congress Party, in a case registered against him under the Prevention of Corruption Act in connection with the alleged irregularities in the allotment of khair wood quota to a private “katha” manufacturing unit just before demitting office in March 1998.