BREAKING NEWS
2 Haryana ministers killed in copter crash

Traders’ strike almost total
Govt firm on VAT: Dasgupta

New Delhi, March 30 The three-day nationwide traders’ strike against the introduction of a comprehensive value added tax regime began today. The Confederation of All-India Traders and the Bharat Udyog Vyapar Mandal, the two major traders’ bodies’ spearheading the agitation, claimed that strike was total all across the country. In video (28k, 56k)
Traders demonstrate against VAT at Karol Bagh area in Delhi during the Bharat Bandh call on Tuesday. — Tribune photo by Mukesh Aggarwal

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Traders not consulted on VAT: mandal chief

Complete bandh against VAT

PM looking forward to date with Pervez

Arrives in Mauritius Port Louis, March 30 The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, said he was looking forward to meeting the Pakistan President, General Pervez Musharraf, when he comes to India to witness the one-day India-Pakistan cricket match on April 17.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is received by Mauritius Prime Minister Paul Raymond Berenger on his arrival at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam international airport in Mauritius on Wednesday. — PTI photo by P.S. Sengupta

Red signal to ministers going on foreign jaunts
New Delhi, March 30
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has asked all his ministerial colleagues to send him a report soon after returning from a foreign trip indicating the main purpose and the extent to which the issues being pursued were achieved.

Punjab liquor consumers to bear brunt of cess
Chandigarh, March 30
The responsibility for raising the Rs 100 crore Agri-Diversification, Infrastructure, Research and Development Fund has now shifted to drinkers of liquor in Punjab as the Vidhan Sabha today while passing the 2005-06 Budget approved levying of a cess on both Punjab medium liquor and Indian made foreign liquor from April 1.

Ultras for boycott of bus service
J&K leaders may travel to Muzaffarabad
Srinagar, March 30
Describing the move as an “Indian agenda,” four underground militant organisations here today appealed to the people not to venture to board the Muzaffarabad bus service scheduled to start on April 7.

Attack on BSF camp, 3 killed
Srinagar, March 30
As the countdown for the start of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service began, two militants strapped with explosives today carried out a suicide attack on a BSF camp in Jammu and Kashmir, leading to a heavy exchange of fire that left the ultras and a jawan dead.

Leaders call for Left unity Chandigarh, March 30 Disenchanted with the economic policies of the Congress-led UPA coalition, the leaders of four major Left parties today emphasised the need for unity amongst them to strengthen the Communist movement in the country. Party congress to introspect what ails CPI Harkishan Singh Surjit being welcomed by Anu Chatrath, Mayor of Chandigarh, at the 19th party congress of the CPI in Chandigarh on Wednesday. — Tribune photo Pradeep Tewari