Friday, March 24, 2006, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Sonia Gandhi quits Lok Sabha
* Also resigns as NAC chief
* To contest again from Rae Bareli

New Delhi, March 23 Stung by the Election Commission report on the Jaya Bachchan disqualification issue and reminiscent of the time when she steered clear of the office of the Prime Minister, Congress President Sonia Gandhi sought to push an aggressive Opposition on the backfoot by resigning as Chairperson of the UPA's overarching National Advisory Council as well her seat in the Lok Sabha representing the Rae Bareli constituency in Uttar Pradesh.

Mrs Sonia Gandhi addresses a Press conference at her residence in New Delhi on Thursday. — Tribune photo: Mukesh Aggarwal

Editorial: Sonia outwits the BJP Nation page: Resignation an attempt to save face: BJP Haryana page: Congressmen hold protest rally for Sonia Ludhiana page: Sonia’s resignation a victory for NDA: Dhillon In video: (28k, 56k)

Karan Singh resigns from RS
New Delhi, March 23
The controversy over office of profit tonight claimed the parliamentary seat of a senior Congress leader Karan Singh who resigned from the Rajya Sabha, hours after his party chief Sonia Gandhi’s quitting from the Lok Sabha and as Chairperson of the National Advisory Council.

CPM MPs not to resign, says Karat
New Delhi, March 23
Even as the CPM today ruled out resignation of its MPs despite Congress President Sonia Gandhi stepping down over the controversial issue of holding office of profit, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee reportedly claimed that his holding the office of Chairperson of the
Sriniketan-Shantiniketan Development Authority was not an office of profit.

SP turns down Amar Singh’s offer to quit

Parliament to be prorogued
New Delhi, March 23
The Cabinet today did not discuss the controversial ordinance to exempt certain posts from the purview of office of profit, while the CCPA decided to prorogue the Budget session of Parliament, which was adjourned sine die yesterday.

PM to flag off bus to Nankana Sahib today
Amritsar under security umbrella
Amritsar, March 23
The unprecedented security umbrella on the eve of the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to his hometown here tomorrow has converted the holy city into a police cantonment since intelligence agencies feel that certain forces, inimical to the current bonhomie between India and Pakistan, may play mischief.
In video: (28k, 56k)
Punjab page: 22 relatives allowed to meet PM

India: The Tasks Ahead
   SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

125TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS,
INAUGURAL SESSION

	PUNJAB: Govt to raise memorial to freedom fighters
	HARYANA: Hansi-Butana canal to be completed in a year: CM
	HIMACHAL: Doctors on contract to be regularised: CM
	J&K: Back home, J&K leaders happy with Musharraf
	CHANDIGARH: Poultry farmers lay siege to railway track
	LUDHIANA: Poultry farmers protest on railway track
	DELHI: Demolitions: MCD told to perform or face dissolution
	OPINIONS: Sonia outwits the BJP
	BUSINESS: BP pulls out of pact on Bathinda refinery
	NATION: EC order may land several MPs in trouble
	WORLD: Bush Admn briefs NSG
	SPORTS: Rathore, Anuja shoot gold

May announce Rs 570 crore package
for Amritsar
Amritsar, March 23
The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, is likely to announce a Rs 570-crore package for the overall development of his home town at a public rally, scheduled to be held here tomorrow to mark the flagging off ceremony of much-awaited Amritsar-Nankana Sahib bus.

Jet, Sahara extend pact
New Delhi, March 23
Jet Airways and Air Sahara tonight extended the term of their share-purchase agreement by 90 days in a bid to salvage aviation history's biggest buyout deal for Rs 2,300 crore by Jet.

Editorial: Airlines’ merger
Nation page: Jet, Sahara honchos meet

Sooden among 3 hostages rescued in Iraq

3 per cent DA for Central staff New Delhi, March 23 The Cabinet today approved 3 per cent hike in dearness allowance for the Central Government employees. The increase in DA from 21 per cent to 24 per cent will cost the government an additional Rs 1,130 crore per annum.