Tuesday, March 11, 2003, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

5 more join Punjab Ministry
Chandigarh, March 10
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today not only expanded his Council of Ministers to 26 by adding five more members but also gave a rebuff to dissidents within the Congress.

  Ludhiana page: Chinks in Cong over 2 new ministers

India scalp Lanka to enter semis
Sachin hits 97; Srinath is man of the match
Johannesburg, March 10
India sent the alarm bells ringing for front-runners Australia with a crushing 183-run defeat on Sri Lanka in a Super Six match here today to storm into the semifinals of the World Cup cricket tournament.

Sports page A perfect game, says Ganguly Sachin Tendulkar (left) and Virender Sehwag watch the ball as they cross over while taking a run in the India-Sri Lanka Super Six match of the World Cup in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Monday.  — Reuters photo

Indians in Iraq asked to return
Govt to adopt middle path on war issue
New Delhi, March 10
India today asked its citizens, including its embassy officials, to leave Iraq immediately even as the government made clear that no facilities would be extended to the USA if Washington went ahead with its unilateral action against Iraq, without the UN sanction.

Nation page
  Clash in LS over stance on Iraq
  Move resolution on Iraq: Left
  Edit page: Rhetoric on Iraq & emerging reality

ASI begins survey 
Waqf board objects to excavation
Ayodhya, March 10
A 16-member team of the Archaeological Survey of India today began a survey for excavation of the disputed site in Ayodhya following the directive of the Allahabad High Court. Prior to arrival at the site, the team also held a meeting. In video (28k, 56k)

  Babri case: SC censures counsel

VHP extends ‘satyagraha’
New Delhi, March 10
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad today extended its one-day “satyagraha” on the Ayodhya issue, scheduled to be held in Delhi on March 27, to a week-long programme.

BSP men provided tapes: Mulayam
New Delhi, March 10
The Samajwadi Party today tended to give a new twist to the raging videotape controversy in Uttar Pradesh by saying that the tapes had in fact been provided to his party by none other than “disgruntled” ministers and legislators belonging to the Bahujan Samaj Party.

Clashes in LS, RS over tape
New Delhi, March 10
The Mayawati videotape scandal today led to clashes between Samajwadi Party and BSP members in the Lok Sabha, forcing Speaker Manohar Joshi to abruptly adjourn the House for a lunch recess ahead of schedule.

Kidney scam: 11 chargesheeted
Amritsar, March 10
The Special Investigation Team today chargesheeted 11 persons, including Dr P.K. Sareen, transplant surgeon, Dr O.P. Mahajan, suspended Principal of Government Medical College, and Dr Jagdish Gargi, Professor and Head, Forensic Medicine, in the multi-crore kidney scam here.

No new taxes in Haryana Budget Deficit pegged at Rs 671 cr Chandigarh, March 10 The Budget estimates for 2003-04, presented by Haryana Finance Minister Sampat Singh in the State Assembly here today, projected a deficit of Rs 671 crore at the close of the year.