Monday, July 21, 2003, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

BJP to make Sonia’s origin poll issue

Party to contest Assembly elections on its own Raipur, July 20 The war over Congress President Sonia Gandhi hotted up today, with the BJP declaring that her foreign origin and leadership qualities vis-a-vis Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee would be an issue in the Lok Sabha poll, even as it unveiled a “Mission 2004 Action Plan” to reach out to the minorities. Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani addresses the BJP National Executive meeting in Raipur on Sunday. — PTI

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BBC confirms Kelly gave information
London, July 20
Two days after weapons expert David Kelly was found dead, the BBC today disclosed that he was the source for its controversial report claiming the British Government had “sexed up” a dossier claiming Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction, which was used to justify the US-led war on Iraq.

  World page: Blair not to recall House over Kelly
  Editorial: Blair in deep trouble

Badungar quits to pave way for Tohra
Patiala, July 20
Mr Kirpal Singh Badungar today resigned from the presidentship of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee to pave the way for the ascendancy of Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra to the post.

Prof K.S. Badungar addresses members of the executive committee of the SGPC before submitting his resignation as committee chief in Patiala on Sunday. — Photo Subhash Patialavi

Oppn to bring adjournment motion on CBI ‘misuse’
New Delhi, July 20
The Opposition parties have decided to bring an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha tomorrow on the “misuse” of the CBI in “diluting” the charge sheet against Union Ministers L.K. Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi in the Babri Mosque demolition case.

  PM’s statement on foreign tours in House today
  Paswan to raise Pandya murder case in House

Sinha: all bilateral ties independent
New Delhi, July 20
External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha has made it clear that India does not look at its relationship with any country, including the USA, through the prism of other bilateral relationships.

PM will visit Pak, claims Rahman
New Delhi, July 20
Pakistan Opposition leader Fazal-ur-Rahman said today that Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee would visit Pakistan for the SAARC Summit in January next.

Noor Fatima to be shifted to ward today
Bangalore, July 20
Pakistani child Noor Fatima, who underwent a heart surgery at the Narayana Hrudayalaya on July 15, is well on the road to recovery and will be shifted to a ward from the intensive care unit tomorrow.