India not to insist on veto power
Moscow, May 8
Even as Russia has affirmed its support to India in an expanded United Nations Security Council at a ‘very high level’, India is not holding on to a veto and ‘if there is no veto at all, New Delhi will be happy with that as well’.

In video (28k, 56k)

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at Vnukovo-2 airport on his arrival in Moscow on Sunday. — PTI photo

PM wants peace on borders
Moscow, May 8
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has desired that India should come to terms with its neighbours and strive for peace as much as possible on its borders as a policy paradigm.

Manmohan meets Central Asian leaders

Senior IAS officer L.V. Saptharishi addresses press conference in New Delhi on Sunday and (right) Chief Election Commissioner T.S. Krishnamurty interacts with the media in New Delhi on Sunday. — PTI and Tribune photograph

CEC debunks charges
But Saptharishi stands by his letter
New Delhi, May 8
The Chhapra poll countermanding issue turned murky today with the Election Commission terming the allegation as “scurrilous and baseless”, saying that it was below its dignity to respond to an allegation by Railway Minister Lalu Prasad that it had forced the countermanding of the parliamentary election in Bihar’s Chhapra constituency while senior bureaucrat L.V. Saptharishi, who was a special election observer, alleged the two Election Commissioners, Mr B.B. Tandon and Mr N. Gopalaswamy, had acted with a “casteist bias”.
In video (28k, 56k)
In video: CEC calls Lalu's allegations "baseless". (28k, 56k)

Karat defends Saptharishi

Lalu remarks will hit good governance, says Advani
Mumbai, May 8
Taking exception to Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav’s comments on two Election Commissioners on the issue of countermanding the Chhapra Lok Sabha elections in Bihar, the BJP today said it affected good governance and institutions.

President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam interacts with local children at Port Blair on Saturday. — PTI

India, Pak officials meet on Kishenganga project
Islamabad, May 8
Officials from India and Pakistan today held talks in Lahore to resolve differences over the Kishenganga hydro-power project, planned to be built by India over the Jhelum in Jammu and Kashmir.

Sikh groups write to Censor Board Oppose release of ‘Jo Bole So Nihal’ Amritsar, May 8 In a communication to Sharmila Tagore, Chairperson, Central Board of Film Certification, Sikh organisations have threatened to launch a series of protests if the board failed to impose blanket ban on the controversial film, “Jo Bole So Nihal”, proposed to be released on May 13. Bollywood actor Sunny Deol at a promotional programme of his latest film "Jo Bole So Nihal" in Lucknow. — PTI photo