Budget passed without debate
PM moots code of conduct as Oppn stays away
New Delhi, August 26
Parliament adjourned sine die today, almost a week ahead of schedule, after passing the Union Budget without discussion as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed the hope that disruptions and boycotts of proceedings would not take place again.
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Editorial: Dereliction of duty

Nation page
Vajpayee reveals unwritten code to Prime Minister
Remarks unfortunate: Cong

Marginal relief to IT payers
New Delhi, August 26
Finance Minister P. Chidambaram today announced relief to income tax assessees whose taxable income is marginally above Rs 1 lakh.

GND varsity withdraws permission for seminar
Amritsar, August 26
Guru Nanak Dev University today withdrew permission to hold a seminar on Guru Granth Sahib on the varsity campus, proposed to be held by the SGPC on August 28 here. Mr Parkash Singh Badal, president, Shiromani Akali Dal, was to preside over the seminar.

Punjab page: SGPC wants national holiday for celebrations Sodhi family asked to hand over Kartarpuri Bir to SGPC Sodhis refuse to oblige Gurmat Chetna March reaches Amritsar Sikh devotees at a procession which started from Sohal village near Amritsar on Thursday to participate in the 400th anniversary celebrations of first installation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib at Golden Temple. — PTI photo

I-Day killings: ULFA mastermind held
5 killed in stepped up violence
Jorhat, August 26
The Assam Police today arrested a top ULFA militant, who is the suspected mastermind of the Dhemaji bomb blast which killed 13 persons including 10 school children on Independence Day.

7 feared dead in Uttaranchal flash floods
Dehra Dun, August 26
At least 30 persons were swept away in flash floods that hit several villages near Sittarganj, Udham Singh Nagar district, early morning today. Even as 23 persons have been rescued, two persons were killed and over five were reported missing, officials said.

Truckers’ strike loses steam as govt mounts pressures
New Delhi, August 26
The nationwide indefinite strike of the truck operators, that entered sixth day today, seems to be losing steam amidst reports that government has decided to put pressure on the striking leaders by arresting some of them under the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA).

Editorial: Apples in a jam