Monday, May 22, 2006, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Seven die as militants attack Congress rally
*IGP among 21 hurt  *Lashkar, Al-Mansoorian claim 

responsibility Srinagar, May 21 Merely two days ahead of the second roundtable conference to be held here, militants carried a suicide attack at a rally of the state Youth Congress, killing at least five persons, including two police personnel, and injuring about 21 today.

Security personnel take positions behind a wall after militants attacked a public rally in Srinagar on Sunday. — Tribune photo by Amin War

Change in schedule saved CM Nation page An act of cowardice, says Sonia PoK leaders flay Srinagar attack

Unfazed by attack, PM  to visit Srinagar
New Delhi, May 21
Undeterred by the terrorist attack on Congress rally at Srinagar today, Dr Manmohan Singh would go ahead with his visit to Srinagar on Wednesday.

 J&K page
Security beefed up for PM’s visit
4 militant outfits threaten to sabotage conference

Medicos say no to PM’s appeal; to
continue stir

New Delhi, May 21 Neither the Prime Minister’s appeal nor the threat of severe action have actuated medicos to call off their stir. Buoyed by the support from a cross section of society as was evident from Saturday’s ‘dilli chalo’ rally, the anti-quota struggle continues to surge.

Students of Delhi University and Jamia Milia participate in a rally against reservation at Parliament Street in New Delhi on Sunday.  — Tribune photo by Rajiv Tyagi

In video: Striking docs asked to vacate hostels. (28k, 56k) Nation page: UP invokes ESMA against striking docs Chandigarh page Striking doctors release charter of demands Ludhiana page Agitating medicos draw inspiration from martyrs  Himachal page Doctors raise tempo for demands Students block traffic on quota Editorial: Sharpening conflict

A Tribune Exclusive
Parliamentary panel for major poll reforms
Chandigarh, May 21
In what could drastically change the way in which electoral politics are conducted in the country, a Parliamentary panel has come up with a set of suggestions, which, if accepted, will go a long way in countering the misuse of religion and black money in the electoral process.

Lady officer goes missing from military hospital
Chandigarh, May 21
In an unusual incident, a lady officer has now gone “missing” from a military hospital in Jammu where she had been admitted for the past few days. The Army is terming it to be a case of absent without leave and a signal to this effect has been received at Army Headquarters, New Delhi, it is learnt.

Tarapur plant goes critical
Mumbai, May 21
The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited’s Tarapur Atomic Power Plant, which was dogged by delays, finally went critical this morning. The plant, which would produce 540 MW of power, would be connected to the western power grid in June.

Congressmen laud role of Sikhs in USA Washington: Members of Congress welcomed over 200 Sikhs from across the United States to Capitol Hill this week at the 3rd annual Sikh American Heritage dinner organised by the Washington-based Sikh Council on Religion and Education.( Details on World page)