Thursday, May 4, 2006, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Army deployed in Vadodara
Curb violence, Centre tells Modi govt
Vadodara/New Delhi, May 3

The Army was today deployed in this town where the situation remained by and large peaceful barring stray violence in the wake of communal clashes and arson following the demolition of a dargah that left six persons dead and more than 60 injured.	A vehicle seen burning after fresh violence broke out in the old city of Vadodara on Wednesday. — PTI photo In video (28k, 56k)
Left writes to Centre on Vadodara Nation page: Centre was forewarned about communal flare-up

Mahajan dead after 12-day battle for life

Mumbai, May 3 BJP General Secretary Pramod Mahajan, who was shot at by his younger brother Pravin on April 22, died at Mumbai’s Hinduja Hospital today. A garlanded portrait of Pramod Mahajan at BJP Headquarters in New Delhi on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by Rajeev Tyagi In video (28k, 56k)
obituary: Fighter to the core Chandigarh page: City leaders condole Mahajan’s death

Rice: be ready for changes in N-deal
THE Bush administration, mindful of pressure from prominent members of the U.S. Congress, has reportedly indicated that India must be prepared to accept “amendments” to a civilian nuclear deal.

US mum on blacklisting Taliban

Hurriyat to suggest talks mechanism
New Delhi, May 3
Mirwaiz Umer Farooq will suggest a mechanism to the government to carry forward the dialogue process on proposals and issues relating to Jammu and Kashmir. The Mirwaiz, who led a six-member APHC team at the second round of talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, said later that the talks were “frank and fruitful.”

PM’s Pak visit in August likely
New Delhi, May 3
Preparations for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s maiden official visit to Pakistan, likely to take place in the second half of August this year, have begun with the two sides today deciding on two concrete Line of Control-specific confidence-building measures (CBMs).

Editorial: Another step forward
Special article: The Saltoro Range

Petrol, diesel may get costlier
New Delhi, May 3
The government is mulling Rs 2 to 3 per litre hike in petrol and diesel prices as oil firms are losing around Rs 10 per litre on the two fuels due to hardening global prices. “A formal proposal for an increase may be considered after elections in five states are over next week,” a top official said.

SC sets aside cancellation of PPSC appointments
New Delhi, May 3
The Supreme Court today set aside a Punjab and Haryana High Court judgement cancelling all appointments made by the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) during the tenure of its Chairman Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu.

Jaya woos voters with gold Andipatti (Tamil Nadu), May 3 Andipatti in Tamil means “the land of paupers”. But being the Assembly constituency of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayaram Jayalalithaa it is now being turned into a land of gold. Though confident of her personal victory, to woo the electorate she is even promising gold.