Wednesday, February 5, 2003, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Putin calls up Vajpayee
Throws damper on Musharraf’s Russia visit
New Delhi, February 4
Minutes before Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf landed for a historic and his first-ever visit to Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin handed a not-so-subtle diplomatic message to Islamabad when he called up Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to express his country’s solidarity with India.

‘Appropriate docking facilities could have prevented crash’
New Delhi, February 4
Appropriate docking facilities and timely application of mathematical simulation modelling techniques may have prevented the tragic crash of ill-fated space shuttle Columbia, eminent Indian scientist Prof Yashpal said here today.

The Prime Minister mourns the death of Kalpana Chawla. In video (28k, 56k)

Give proof of assets: Dhumal
Shimla, February 4
Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, today challenged Congress leaders to provide documentary evidence to prove that the assets, a list of which was released to the Press yesterday, were owned by him. He said he would initiate criminal proceedings against them if they failed to prove the allegations within two days.

     Election special on Himachal page

Cong men seek change of two candidates
New Delhi, February 4
Even as the Congress high-command has asked aspirants who could not get tickets to go back and work for party candidates in their assembly seats, disgruntled Congressmen continue to throng AICC office here demanding change in party candidates.

UP MLA convicted under TADA
New Delhi, February 4
Mukhtar Ahmmed Ansari alias Javed, a sitting MLA of Uttar Pradesh, was today convicted by a special court here in Delhi under the Terrorists and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) and the Arms Act.

Kanchi seer meets PM on Ayodhya
New Delhi, February 4
In the background of the hotting up of the Ayodhya imbroglio with the VHP setting a deadline on the possession of disputed land, the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, met the Shankaracharya of Kanchi, Jayandra Saraswati, this evening with indications that the government may move the apex court to expedite the decision on the vexed issue.

PADDY SCAM
21 mill owners, 17 officials booked
Ferozepore, February 4
The Vigilance Bureau has initiated criminal proceedings against 21 owners of six rice mills where misappropriation of government paddy to the tune of Rs 15 crore has been detected.

Oilfield found in Rajasthan
New Delhi, February 4
British energy major Cairn Energy has struck oil in Rajasthan with the discovery of a medium-sized oil and gas field in Barmer district. The field is estimated to have a total reserve of 20 million tonnes.

FOLLOW UP Scattered records belie Archives Dept claim Patiala, February 4 Five days after the fate of the archival record following its transfer to the State Language Department from Rajindra Kothi was highlighted, the Archives Department today launched an operation cover-up by claiming that the record had been shifted with “due care” and that no record had been scattered or had come loose from the bundles. Scattered sheets of archival records belie the claim of the Archives Department. — Photo Pawan Sharma