Saturday, July 19, 2003, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

BJP targets Sonia’s foreign origin
Ram temple on party agenda but not poll issue
Raipur, July 18
In an obvious effort to make Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s foreign origin an election issue, the Bharatiya Janata Party today said a Prime Minister born on Indian “soil” would prove to be more “sensitive” and “responsible” to issues of national security and prestige.

BJP constitution amended
RAIPUR NOTES: BJP chief makes last-minute changes
BJP, Jogi trade charges
Nation page: BJP lacks issues, says Cong

	In video (28k, 56k) Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has a word with BJP President Venkaiah Naidu at the BJP National Executive Committee meeting in Raipur on Friday. — PTI photo

CBI plea on Monica’s extradition rejected
New Delhi, July 18
In a major setback to the CBI, a Portuguese court has turned down India’s request for the extradition of underworld don Abu Salem’s girl friend Monica Bedi.

Now Pak boy heads for Apollo
Wagha, July 18
Six-year-old Pakistani boy, Afnan bin Iqbal, suffering from a head injury may get a fresh lease of life as doctors in Karachi have referred him to Apollo Hospital in New Delhi. Talking to The Tribune, Iqbal’s mother said the resumption of the Delhi-Lahore bus service had turned out to be a boon for Pakistanis.
Afnan Iqbal (six) along with his sister Faqia alighting from the Lahore-Delhi bus at Wagah joint check post on Friday. Afnan has come with his mother (not in picture) for treatment of a head injury. — Tribune photo Rajiv Sharma

Noor taken off ventilator

Rare surgery on Tanzanian girl
Hyderabad, July 18
While the nation’s attention was focused on the open heart surgery on Pakistani girl Noor Fatima in Bangalore, a complicated and rare procedure on an 18-month-old Tanzanian girl here went unnoticed.

Experts differ on sending troops to Iraq
New Delhi, July 18
A debate is on about sending Indian troops to Iraq under the aegis of the United Nations even as the USA and the UK are stoutly defending the war against that country.

UK Defence Adviser found dead

Mufti persuades Sonia to keep Omar out
Jammu, July 18
Alarmed over the reports that Ms Sonia Gandhi, Congress President, was planning to invite the National Conference chief, Mr Omar Abdullah, to her Sunday’s meeting with the Opposition parties to chalk out a strategy before the elections in five states, the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, and the Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Mangat Ram Sharma, have persuaded the Congress high command to keep the NC away.

Nation page: Sonia calls meeting of oppn parties

Farmers upbeat after showers Patiala, July 18 Farmers are in a upbeat mood in most parts of the Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. The reason is moderate to heavy rainfall in the past 48 hours in various parts of these states. Happy over the good rainfall farmers are busy in their fields at Niamatpur village near Rajpura on Friday. — Tribune photo Manoj Mahajan