Monday, March 3, 2003, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Infighting led to BJP ouster: Vajpayee
New Delhi, March 2
The top brass of the BJP, including Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today singled out factionalism in the party’s state unit for its debacle in Himachal Pradesh. “We should have fought unitedly. The people were angry with us and this was evident from the kind of response there was at the election meetings. In video (28k, 56k)

    BJP meeting on April 3
  Himachal page
    Chief Minister Dhumal tenders resignation
    Vidya supporters rush to Delhi on CM issue
    Royals lose favour
    Detailed poll results

Cricket celebrations turn violent; 1 dead
Ahmedabad, March 2
A youth died and at least six were injured when celebrations over India’s win against Pakistan in the World Cup 2003 turned violent in the riot-scared western state of Gujarat, the police said today.

    Editorial: Sachin stamps his class

Two Indian cricket fans celebrate in Kolkata on Sunday after India’s World Cup win over Pakistan. Many fans thronged the streets of the city to dance and celebrate the win over arch rivals Pakistan in Centurion on Saturday, a victory that carries the team into the Super Sixes of the competition. — Reuters photo

Top Al-Qaida operative arrested
Islamabad, March 2
In a major breakthrough in the war against terror, a top Al-Qaida activist and suspected mastermind behind the September 11 attacks in the USA, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, was arrested in a joint operation by the FBI and Pakistan police and handed over to the US authorities. In video (28k, 56k)

India reacts to Musharraf’s remarks
New Delhi, March 2
India today reacted sharply to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s hostile remarks and blasted him for not fulfilling his commitments and international obligations to end cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.

INLD to seek rollback in fertiliser prices
Khurana supports Chautala’s move
Rohtak, March 2
Notwithstanding Union Finance Minister Jaswant Singh’s refusal to roll back the increase in the prices of diesel and fertilisers, the former Chief Minister of Delhi and senior BJP leader, Mr Madan Lal Khurana, today supported the INLD supremo, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, in his attempts to convince the Prime Minister in this regard.

    Highlights of Vikas Rally

Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, BJP leader Madan Lal Khurana and TDP leader Yerran Naidu at the ‘‘Vikas Rally’’ organised to mark the completion of three years of the Haryana Government, in Rohtak on Sunday. — PTI photo

Entry tax to replace octroi Jindals get online-lottery contract Patiala, March 2 The Punjab Finance Minister, Mr Lal Singh, said here today that a two per cent tax would be imposed on all goods entering the state, to raise a Rs 720 crore annual corpus for running the corporations and committees of the state after the abolition of octroi.