Thursday, March 2, 2006, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

PM breaks protocol to receive Bush at airport
Indo-US N-deal almost ready

New Delhi, March 1 The India-United States nuclear deal was almost through even before President George W Bush set foot on Indian soil this evening. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh welcomes US President George W. Bush at Palam Air Force Station in New Delhi on Wednesday. — PTI photo
Opinions page: Ponderables for White House World page: Bush makes surprise visit to Kabul Small town Indian accompanies Bush Nation page: Delhi in grip of tight security Punjab page: Protest against Bush’s visit

Lockheed-Martin offers new P3C Orions to Navy
New Delhi, March 1
US Aviation major Lockheed-Martin said on Saturday that it was offering the Indian Navy its upgraded spy plane P3C Orions with new wings and tail and was in frontline contention for the Navy’s International tenders for eight maritime reconnaissance aircraft.

4 MLAs quit SP, rejoin BSP
Lucknow, March 1
Four BSP MLAs from the breakaway group, including two ministers, submitted their resignations to Governor T.V. Rajeswar and returned to their parent party today. With this, the numbers game started here, shifting focus from the Speaker’s chamber to the Governor House.

Editorial: Mulayam should bow out

EC announces poll schedule for five Assemblies
New Delhi, March 1
The Election Commission today announced multi-phased Assembly elections in five states from April 3 to May 8, with the Left bastion of West Bengal for the first time going in for a five-phase poll. Apart from West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala, and the Union Territory of Pondicherry would go to polls.

I gave AK-56 rifles to Dutt, admits Salem
Mumbai, March 1
Gangster Abu Salem has revealed details of how he transported assault rifles and weapons in the days before the 1993 serial bomb blasts that rocked Mumbai. The confessional statement made by Salem before the CBI was opened today.

India: The Tasks Ahead
   SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

125TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS,
INAUGURAL SESSION

	PUNJAB: Wordy duel between CM, Badal in House
	HARYANA: Jail officials questioned
	HIMACHAL: State to gain from Budget: Virbhadra
	J&K: Handwara killings: Azad orders judicial probe
	CHANDIGARH: 30 minutes of vandalism at PU
	LUDHIANA: Stage set for kisan mela
	DELHI: Master Plan will take ground realities into account: L-G
	Opinions: Mulayam should bow out
	BUSINESS: PC targets 10 per cent GDP growth through agriculture
	NATION: SC reduces summer vacation by a week
	WORLD: Bush makes surprise visit to Kabul
	SPORTS: India seize early advantage

Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt arrives to appear before a Tada court in Mumbai on Wednesday. — PTI photo

Militants gun down 2 cops
Srinagar, March 1
Four persons, including two police personnel, were killed by militants while the security forces busted a hideout and seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition and RDX in Jammu and Kashmir overnight.

4 teachers sacked on rape charge
Chandigarh, March 1
The Haryana Government today dismissed from service four teachers who were arrested and suspended for allegedly sexually exploiting girl students.

Co-owners’ consent not needed for eviction suit: SC New Delhi, March 1 In a major relief to owners of a joint property given on rent, the Supreme Court has ruled that if any of the shareholder wanted eviction of the tenant on the ground that he needed the premises for personal use, he needs not to take the consent of the other shareholders to file a suit before Rent Controller.