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THE TRIBUNE EARTHQUAKE RELIEF FUND

Natwar meets PM, says he is innocent

New Delhi, December 3 Minister without portfolio K. Natwar Singh called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here today and is believed to have discussed the fresh controversy involving him in the UN’s Oil-for-Food programme in Iraq following the controversial interview given by India’s envoy to Croatia Aneil Matherani. Mr Natwar Singh during the release of the book “Mangal Pandey — Ek Krantiveer Ki Sachchi Kahani” in New Delhi on Saturday. — Tribune photo by Mukesh Aggarwal

Nation page: Volcker report: Left defends govt

Natwar should quit: CPI
New Delhi, December 3
The national executive of the Communist Party of India (CPI) today demanded the resignation of former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh from the Union Cabinet following damaging comments by Indian Ambassador to Croatia Aneil Matherani.

Advani seeks resignation  of Natwar, Sonia Gandhi
Jaipur, December 3
Considering Croatian Ambassador Aneil Matherani's sensational disclosure in the Iraq's oil-for-food programme, the Congress president Sonia Gandhi should immediately resign owning responsibility for the corruption in the party, BJP President L K Advani said here today.

Panel for amending definition of rape
New Delhi, December 3
Seeking to make child marriage a serious offence and declaration of it automatically null and void, a Parliamentary Standing Committee has recommended amendment in the definition of rape under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) to cover any sexual relationship with a married woman below the age of 18 years as an offence within its meaning instead of 15 years.

Cover Mohali, Patiala under Central scheme: Punjab
New Delhi, December 3
Punjab Local Bodies Minister Jagjit Singh today sought inclusion of cities like Patiala and Mohali in the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) which was launched by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today.

Nation page
Mission to boost quality of life in cities launched

Wife seeks protection from HIV+ husband
New Delhi, December 3
The wife of a person living with HIV AIDS (PLHWA) has knocked the door of the National Commission for Women to defend her choice of terminating conjugal relations. This is the first time that the Commission has received such a case. The woman, who has two children, petitioned the Commission recently after her trucker husband insisted on having unprotected sex with her.

In video: AIDS couple ties knot. (28k, 56k)

Uma’s expulsion from BJP imminent
New Delhi, December 3
Expulsion of Uma Bharti from the BJP appeared imminent as the party confirmed today that till late evening, it had not received any reply to the show-cause notice served on her for indulging in anti-party activities.

Uma observes silence

Incorporate ‘right to recall’: Speaker
Hyderabad, December 3
The Lok Sabha Speaker, Mr Somnath Chatterjee, today underlined the need to incorporate “right to recall” in the electoral system.  

Lovers united in death Bhopal, December 3 They were desperately in love with each other, but had to die to get married. This tragic love story took place in Khandwa district. Shankar Sutar (26) was employed as a tractor driver by Guddu Darbar, a farmer of Ashapur village. He fell in love with 17-year-old Shyamabai who was working as a labourer at the same place. Shankar belonged to the Sutar community while Shyamabai was from the Korku community.