Loan waiver package for farmers likely: FM
New Delhi, July 9
The government may consider a loan waiver package to give relief to distressed farmers even as it said the new package announced last month should be given a fair trial.

Special article:Chidambaram’s new avatar
Editorial: Water! Water!
Business page: Withdraw turnover tax,
demand investors

Focus shifts to election of RS deputy chief
New Delhi, July 9
Now that the presentation of the Budget is over and Parliament is functioning smoothly, the UPA government is now focusing on the next item on its agenda — the election of the deputy chairperson of the Rajya Sabha.

Mohsina Kidwai may join Cabinet
New Delhi, July 9
The choice of the Rajya Sabha Deputy chairperson, the proposed Cabinet expansion and the election of Congress Parliamentary Party office bearers are all part of larger exercise on restructuring of the AICC being planned by Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Bhattal to be Deputy CM
New Delhi, July 9
Keen to settle the grievances of its MLAs in Punjab following the downsizing of the Amarinder ministry, the Congress is working on a formula to give adequate representation to those loyal to senior party leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal in the appointment of parliamentary secretaries and to state boards and corporations.

3 die of diarrhoea at Pingla Ashram
20 other mentally challenged afflicted
Sanaur (Patiala), July 9
Three years ago they used to chain the mentally challenged. Now they let them roam free. But in tattered clothes, in unhygienic conditions and without any medical facilities. This is what the privately-run All-India Pingla Ashram offers to 152 mentally challenged inmates.

Inmates of the All-India Pingla Ashram having food on the ashram premises on Friday. — Photo by Rajesh Sachar

Armitage to arrive on July 13
New Delhi, July 9
India is going to call a spade a spade and do some candid talking with United States Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, who is arriving here on July 13. Sources said as far as New Delhi was concerned it would not mince words in telling him that there seemed to be no tectonic shifts in Pakistan’s stance towards terrorism.

POTA panel told to decide Editor’s case New Delhi, July 9 The Supreme Court today directed the Central Pota Review Committee, headed by Justice A. B. Sahrya to decide within four weeks an application seeking the review of the arrest of Tamil magazine Nakeeran’s Editor R. R. Gopal under the Prevention of Terrorism Act by the state government.