Nitish to withdraw resignation
New Delhi, July 16
Railway Minister and Samata Party leader Nitish Kumar is said to have agreed to withdraw his resignation after meetings with party President George Fernandes and party MPs.

SC orders CBI probe into Taj corridor bungling
New Delhi, July 16
Coming down heavily on the Uttar Pradesh Government and the National Project Construction Corporation (NPCC), a Central agency, for continuing the work on the controversial Rs 175-crore Taj Heritage Corridor project on the Yamuna bed in Agra in violation of its directive to stop it, the Supreme Court today ordered a CBI inquiry into the bungling and directed the agency to submit its report within two months.

Nation page:Mayawati earns court’s wrath

Punjab hikes ST on petrol Chandigarh, July 16 Beginning tomorrow, petrol will cost more in Punjab following the Cabinet decision today to hike sales tax on it from 20 per cent to 25 per cent, which will mean an additional annual revenue of Rs 65 crore on the existing Rs 350 crore.

Tohra to replace Badungar Amritsar, July 16 The foe-turned friends, Mr Parkash Singh Badal and Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, today called upon the Sikh sangat to give a befitting reply to the alleged repression let loose by Capt Amarinder Singh government against the Akalis.

Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra shares a point with Mr Parkash Singh Badal at the Bhog of Akhand Path organised by Mr Badal as part of ‘tankha’ for violation of Akal Takht edict. — Photo Rajiv Sharma

Punjab page
Making personal issue Panthic, Badal style
Who will head SGPC?

Advani interfering, Capt tells court
New Delhi, July 16
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, in his submission before the Delhi High Court, today accused Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani of interfering in the probe into corruption cases against former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and claimed that his government’s crusade against corruption was not motivated with a “political vendetta”.

Menon to meet Riaz today
Islamabad, July 16
Asserting that certain “positive” developments have taken place between India and Pakistan, India’s new High Commissioner Shivshankar Menon today said that he would be focussing on taking forward the peace process initiated by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
In video (28k, 56k)

West Asia-type road map won’t do, says Jamali
In video: Pakistani Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali urges patience in quest for peace with India. (28k, 56k)

Major cut in farm loan rates New Delhi, July 16 The Centre today announced major initiatives to ease fund flow to the credit-starved agriculture sector, including a reduction of interest rates to 9 per cent on loans not exceeding Rs 50,000 and easier norms for acquiring loans on tractors and farm equipment.