S P O T L I G H T

Centre’s gesture to NSCN (I-M)
New Delhi, November 26
In a major boost to the ongoing Naga peace process direct talks will be held between Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and the NSCN (I-M) leaders Isak Chsi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah in Delhi. The talks are likely to take place some time next month with the Naga leaders expected to visit New Delhi. The ban on Mr Muivah and Mr Swu and the outfit, which expired today, has been allowed to lapse, sources said. TNS

No proposal to restore LTC
New Delhi, November 26
The government has no proposal to restore Leave Travel Concession (LTC) for the Central Government employees, Minister of State for Finance and Company Affairs Anandrao V. Adsul informed the Rajya Sabha today. He denied the report which appeared in a daily on August 18, 2002 that the government was considering such a proposal. UNI

Poll officer suspended
New Delhi, November 26
The Election Commission today directed immediate suspension of the Deputy District Election Officer of Mehsana in Gujarat because of “dereliction of duty”. The commission has written to the state Chief Secretary in this regard, EC sources said here. The official has been suspended following complaints that he was not implementing the commission’s guidelines. TNS

Belarus PM
New Delhi, November 26
Belarus Prime Minister Gennadiy V. Novitsky arrived here this evening on a four-day state visit during which he would be meeting top Indian leaders, including the Prime Minister. TNS