Tuesday, December 10, 2002, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

HPCL, BPCL to go on the block
Announcement marked by Oppn protest
New Delhi, December 9
Amid a walkout by Opposition members, Disinvestment Minister Arun Shourie today announced in the Lok Sabha the decision to offload the government's stake in HPCL through the strategic sale route and that of BPCL by issuing an initial public offer (IPO).
In video: Disinvestment Minister Arun Shourie says Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd and Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd will be sold through public issues. (28k, 56k)

Musharraf factor working for BJP
Ahmedabad, December 9
It appears that Mr Narendra Modi has developed “Mian Musharraf” mania. He has made “Mian” a central issue in the Gujarat Assembly elections.

GUJARAT DIARY: It’s war on religious channels

3,000 fake voters in Jalalabad list
Jalalabad, December 9
Nearly 3,000 names in the revised electoral rolls of 15 wards of the local Municipal Council for its coming election, have been found to be fake during the two-day probe conducted by Mr Alok Shekhar, Director-General (Schools), Punjab.

Nagappa’s funeral: mob turns violent
Kamagere, December 9
The police fired several rounds in the air and burst tear gas shells to quell a violent mob even as hundreds of people paid their last respects to former minister H. Nagappa, killed in the captivity of elusive brigand Veerappan.
In video: Karnataka Chief Minister S. M. Krishna says operations to nab Veerappan will be intensified. (28k, 56k)

In video: Supporters of H. Nagappa accuse Karnataka government of mishandling the kidnapping carried out by Veerappan. (28k, 56k)

Govt proposes joint front to arrest Veerappan
Editorial: Meeting the Veerappan threat
Nation page: Krishna government in crisis

Udasis are Sikhs, says SGPC chief
Amritsar, December 9
The Dharam Prachar Committee of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee has declared that Nirmal and Udasi sects were an integral part of Sikhism.

SGPC chief Kirpal Singh Badungar addresses a meeting of the Dharam Prachar Committee in Amritsar on Monday.
— Photo Rajiv Sharma

Clemency will demoralise cops Stillman had no language problem Shimla, December 9 The grant of clemency to Ian Stillman, a British national who was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment for drug trafficking last year, will have a demoralising effect on the police which has been engaged in a relentless crusade against the drug mafia involving foreigners in Kulu district.