Wednesday, March 8, 2006, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Terror strikes Varanasi
*20 dead, 50 hurt in blasts *Alert in states
*PM, Kalam appeal for calm
Varanasi/Lucknow/New Delhi, March 7
Terror struck this temple town when two bomb blasts in quick succession rocked the Sankatmochan shrine and the cantonment railway station this evening killing at least 20 persons and injuring over 50, some of them seriously.

In video (28k, 56k)
Punjab, Haryana on alert
Delhi page: High alert in Capital in wake of blasts

No intrusive inspections of N-facilities: PM
New Delhi, March 7
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today declared that India will not allow intrusive international inspections in nuclear facilities of high national security importance. He made two announcements primarily aimed at keeping the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre out of international safeguards.
In video (28k, 56k)

Nation page:
India to place 14 reactors under IAEA scrutiny
World page:
Bush admn starts briefing US Cong members

No fresh taxes in Punjab Budget

MLAs to have funds at disposal Chandigarh, March 7 With an eye on the coming Assembly elections in Punjab, the Finance Minister, Mr Surinder Singla, today presented a tax free Budget having a total outlay of Rs 27,791.87 crore. The revenue deficit will be Rs 1,390 crore. Finance Minister Surinder Singla addresses a Press conference in Chandigarh on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

Unauthorised colonies to be regularised: Singla
Chandigarh, March 7
In a decision of far reaching economic and social consequences, the Punjab Finance Minister, Mr Surinder Singla, today announced in the Budget speech that all unauthorised residential colonies and slums in the state will be regularised. Details in Punjab page

Edit: Finances in good health
Punjab page:
Renewal programme for small farmers
Govt not in denial mode, says Singla
No announcement on ending of octroi
Rs 924 crore for power sector
Rs 4.51 cr spent on PSSSB, for no work
Rs 7 cr for soldiers’ widows

India: The Tasks Ahead
   SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

125TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS,
INAUGURAL SESSION

	PUNJAB: Unauthorised colonies to be regularised: Singla
	HARYANA: Hisar rally turnout pleases Sonia
	HIMACHAL: Kol Dam workers strike work
	J&K: Top LeT commander killed
	CHANDIGARH: No bidding at auction of UT banquet hall
	LUDHIANA: Couple killed for Rs 1,000
	DELHI: Centre reviewing Delhi Rent Control Act: Reddy
	OPINIONS: Finances in good health
	BUSINESS: Process to review FDI in telecom begins
	NATION: India to place 14 reactors under IAEA scrutiny
	WORLD: Iran: US threatens to sink Russian proposal
	SPORTS: Weather may play spoilsport

In Health Tribune today

Health-giving foods only, please

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Quote

It is a shame that people like us are not allowed to sit in Parliament. — Jaya Bachchan

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Punjab offers special concession to
Ratan Tata
Chandigarh, March 7
Budgetary provision for special concessions for one year to super mega manufacturing units may help the State Government to convince Mr Ratan Tata to prefer Punjab over Himachal Pradesh for his new small car manufacturing unit.

Kalam’s decision on Jaya likely today
New Delhi, March 7
J. Abdul Kalam consulted legal and constitutional experts on the issue of disqualification of Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan following the opinion by the Election Commission, she sent a letter to Dr Kalam requesting him to seek a fresh opinion of poll panel after hearing her.

HC flays Banerjee panel for publicising report
Ahmedabad, March 7
In a severe indictment of the Justice U.C. Banerjee Committee on the Sabarmati train carnage, the Gujarat High Court today criticised it for “over-reaching the process of the court” by making the findings “public” and directed the authorities concerned not to “further publicise the report or to act upon it in any manner.”

Howard calls for expansion of Indo-Aussie ties Mumbai, March 7 John Howard Prime Minister of Australia called for an expansion of ties between India and his country. Speaking at a function here, Howard said there was plenty of scope for the two countries to mutually benefit from commercial links. In video (28k, 56k)