Gujjars reject Raje’s letter, stir to go on
Karawadi/Jaipur, May 26
Hopes of an early end to the standoff between the Rajasthan government and Gujjars agitating for the Scheduled Tribe status receded tonight when the community leader Kirori Singh Bainsla rejected Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje’s proposal for additional reservation for the community.

Cabinet secy holds meeting on Gujjar stir
Nation page: Protesting Gujjars detained
Delhi page: Gujjar protest hits rail passengers

BJP seeks Centre’s intervention
New Delhi, May 26
The BJP, faced with four days of continuous Gujjar agitation in its backyard Rajasthan, was desperately trying to pass the ball into the court of the Central government led by rival Congress party.

BJP stakes claim in Karnataka
Bangalore, May 26
BJP leader B.S. Yeddyurappa, who led BJP to a landmark victory in Karnataka assembly polls, tonight met Governor Rameshwar Thakur and staked claim to form government armed with the support of five Independents who helped him cross the magic figure of 113 for a simple majority in 224-strong assembly.

Nation page: After defeat, Cong in introspection mode
Editorial: Loss after loss

Are oil companies really in trouble?
New Delhi, May 26
If the oil marketing companies like IndianOil , Hindustan Petroleum, and Bharat Petroleum are to be believed for the under-recoveries that they claim they are making, think again.

Petrol prices may be decontrolled
LPG Connections: Deposit hiked to Rs 1,250

Phoenix lands on Mars New York: A small US spacecraft landed in the north polar region of Mars to begin a three-month search for water and building blocks of life and successfully sent images of the frozen land within two hours. Flight controllers and NASA scientists broke into cheers as Phoenix sent the first signal to confirm its landing late last night after traversing a distance of 423 million miles over a 10-month period. (Details in World page)

One of the first colour images from the Phoenix Mars Lander shows the surface of Mars after the spacecraft landed successfully in the first-ever touchdown near Mars’ north pole on Sunday. — Reuters

UPA-Left talks on N-deal deferred
New Delhi, May 26
The UPA government today decided to postpone a meeting with the Left parties scheduled for May 28 to secure its consent to go to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to sign an agreement.

India gets uranium consignment from Russia
Mumbai, May 26
The first consignment of uranium fuel from Russia for the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) in Tamil Nadu has reached the southern state, marking the beginning of the lifetime supply for the project.

Panchayat poll: Candidate murdered Chandigarh, May 26 The elections to the gram panchayats in Punjab today passed off peacefully except for few incidents of violence and the murder of a candidate. Action by the police unlike in the case of the elections to the Block Samitis and Zila Parishads also helped with around 80 per cent of the rural electorate voting. Punjab page: Polling by and large peaceful 10 hurt in SAD-Cong clash at Majitha Ludhiana page: 80 pc turnout in panchayat poll Chandigarh page: Massive turnout for panchayat elections