Sunday, May 21, 2006, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

PM cautious on quota
* Says implementation will need infrastructure
* To consult UPA partners * Divisions to the fore

New Delhi, May 20 Even as the Congress Working Committee (CWC) today witnessed sharp exchanges on the volatile reservations issue, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh cautioned its members that the extension of quotas for OBCs in Centrally-funded educational institutions may not be possible immediately.

A medical student from Punjab shouts anti-reservation slogan during a huge anti-quota rally called by junior doctors and medical students to protest the reservation policy, in New Delhi on Saturday. — PTI photo In video (28k, 56k)

Punjab page: IMA unit joins anti-quota protest Chandigarh page: Doctors’ stir now mass movement Ludhiana page: Medicos continue anti-quota stir Himachal page: Medicos to involve employee bodies

Quota cauldron simmers
New Delhi, May 20
As both government and students remain resolute on their respective stands, the quota cauldron continues to simmer with medicos refusing to call off their stir. In response to the government’s unwillingness to set up a non-political expert committee to examine the existing reservation policy, doctors have decided to remain off work, despite being served termination letters.

Nation page: PM was aware of quota for OBCs: Arjun

Coop Dept ready with Rs 353 cr relief package for farmers
Chandigarh, May 20
The Punjab Cooperation Department is ready with a package to give relief of Rs 353 crore on the interest on loans advanced by the Punjab State Cooperative Bank and the Punjab State Cooperative Agriculture Development Bank to the farm sector.

Capt meets Sonia, Brar waiting in the wings
New Delhi, May 20
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today met Congress president Sonia Gandhi to convey his views on public wrangling among some party leaders in the past few weeks over the government’s proposal to offer land to Reliance Industries Limited for projects in the state.

Pensioners threaten stir
Patiala, May 20
Around three lakh pensioners of various welfare unions have decided to launch a “jail bharo” agitation from June 9 if the state government fails to implement their already accepted demands. (Details on Punjab page)

OPINIONS PAGE
Nepal: the road ahead
Only a Constituent Assembly can decide
PARLIAMENT has been revived. For the fifth time the veteran leader of the Nepali Congress has begun functioning as Prime Minister.

Contractual staff can’t claim
regularisation: SC
New Delhi, May 20
Adding another chapter to the jurisprudence on regularising the services of employees in government sector where the procedure for appointment is well defined, the Supreme Court has ruled that a person who obtained recruitment on contractual basis cannot claim permanent absorption.

“Da Vinci” breaks box office records Rome, May 20 “The Da Vinci Code” has broken box office records in Roman Catholic Italy as tens of thousands of Italians ignored Vatican calls to boycott the film. (Details on World page)