Sunday, November 3, 2002, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Kelkar for 1 lakh as IT exemption limit, 2 slabs
New Delhi, November 2
The Kelkar Task Force on tax reforms has made far-reaching recommendations that there should be two income tax slabs of 20 per cent and 30 per cent, raising the exemption limit to Rs 1 lakh and doing away with rebates on savings and dividend tax.

Mufti, 8 others take oath
Srinagar, November 2
After a stalemate of over three weeks and a two-week-long Governor’s rule, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was sworn in as the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister at the head of a nine-member Council of Ministers by the Governor, Mr Girish Chandra Saxena, at a simple function at the SKICC here today.
In video (28k, 56k)

J and K Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed is greeted by a member of the Panthers Party as new Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram looks on; and (right): Congress President Sonia Gandhi, flanked by Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ms Mehbooba Mufti, claps as the new government is sworn in in Srinagar on Saturday. — AFP, PTI

    J&K page: At last, Mufti is Chief Minister!
    Mufti, Sonia’s effigies burnt
    Edit page: Mufti’s friends flown in for coronation

Ultras attack Mufti’s house
Srinagar, November 2
Merely three hours before being administered the oath of office as the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, militants lobbed a grenade near the Nowgam residence of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, injuring one PSO here this morning.
In video (28k, 56k)
In video: Congress leader gunned down by militants (28k, 56k)

    Shabir Shah meets Azad

Mayawati has majority: Governor
Lucknow, November 2
Uttar Pradesh Governor Vishnu Kant Shastri today said the present government enjoyed a majority as none of the dissident BJP MLAs had withdrawn support from the BSP-BJP coalition led by Ms Mayawati.
In video (28k, 56k)

    Cong seeks Assembly session in UP

Vir Chakra for 3 Army personnel
New Delhi, November 2
Two army officers and a Havildar were today given wartime Vir Chakra awards for their brave exploits against the Pakistani forces along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir during the year-long “Operation Parikrama”.

One of the recipients holds back her tears during the Defence Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Saturday. — PTI photo

PM keen on allowing jatha to Pak New Delhi, November 2 Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee appears to be positively inclined to allow a symbolic or token jatha to visit Nankana Sahib in Pakistan on the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak on November 19. Even though Mr Vajpayee feels that the general situation in Pakistan continues to remain disturbed, he believes sending a jatha as has been the practice since the trauma of Partition might help in countering the false propaganda and forces inimical to this country.