Kashmiris vote like never before
Record turnout in civic poll
Baramula/Kupwara, January 29
People of Kashmir braved terrorist threats and boycott calls to bring home democracy in style today. Determined to make a success of the local bodies elections, being held after a gap of 27 years, the voters surfaced like never before. And they did not return until they had created history in the elections held to two municipal councils and eight municipal committees of Baramula and Kupwara.

J&K page: Militants kill NC candidate In video (28k, 56k) Kashmiris are all smiles as they queue up to cast their votes at Handwara for civic polls on Saturday. — Tribune photo by Amir War

Sonia Gandhi storms Chautala’s citadel
Her mantra — root out lawlessness
Narwana, January 29
Storming the Indian National Lok Dal supremo’s citadel here this afternoon, the Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, accused Mr Om Parkash Chautala’s government of “subverting democracy and letting loose a reign of terror and lawlessness in the state” and made a fervent call for its rout in the coming Assembly elections.

Special coverage: Assembly Elections 2005
More election stories on Haryana page

Haryana page: Sonia ups the ante, decries family rule in state AICC President Sonia Gandhi with Haryana Congress working president Randeep Surjewala at a rally in Narwana on Saturday. — Tribune photo by Pradeep Tewari

Goa Govt reduced to minority, Congress stakes claim
Mumbai, January 29
The Manohar Parrikar government in Goa was reduced to a minority with four of its MLAs resigning from the party and two others withdrawing support today. Atanasio “Babush” Monserrate, who was divested of his Town and Country Planning portfolio by the Chief Minister on corruption charges on Thursday.

Venkaiah’s chopper set ablaze
New Delhi, January 29
Former BJP President M Venkaiah Naidu today escaped unhurt when petrol bombs were thrown at his helicopter, a short distance away from his election rally in a village in Gaya district in Bihar. Confirming the incident, party Vice-President M.A. Naqvi said “Mr Naidu is safe.

George opposes Central rule in UP
New Delhi, January 29
NDA Convener George Fernandes today opposed the Congress’ demand for President’s rule in Uttar Pradesh and accused the Congress of adopting “double standards”. “I do not favour imposition of President’s rule in Uttar Pradesh as the situation there does not warrant such a measure,” he told mediapersons here.

Natwar to visit Kabul on way to Pak
New Delhi, January 29
External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh will visit Afghanistan on February 15 and would hold talks with President Hamid Karzai and Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah, diplomatic sources said today. Mr Natwar Singh would remain in Kabul barely for eight hours and in the evening he would fly to Islamabad, the first bilateral visit by an Indian Foreign Minister to Pakistan since 1990.

Modi antagonises Sikhs Cancels Gurpurb holiday in Gujarat Chandigarh, January 29 Anguished at the decision of the Gujarat Government to cancel holiday on the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, Sikhs from various walks of life have decided to lodge a protest with the authorities concerned tomorrow.