Big hike for PSU staff
New Delhi, November 20
There was a good news for the Public Sector Undertaking (PSUs) employees here in the times of recession and meltdown with the government today giving its approval to increase in the pay of its officers with effect from January 1, 2007.

Army to reinstate 23,476 troops
Discharge illegal: HC
Chandigarh, November 20
The Army may reinstate over 23,000 troops that had been discharged on grounds of low medical category (LMC) consequent to orders issued by the Delhi High Court today. They would also be eligible for emoluments and other benefits from the date of discharge to their reinstatement.

Pragya ‘torture’
BJP charges being looked into, PM tells Advani
New Delhi, November 20
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s efforts to smoothen the ruffled feathers of the Sangh parivar in general and Leader of Opposition L.K. Advani in particular, over the investigations into the Malegaon blasts and interrogation of Pragya Singh Thakur seem to have had no serious impact.

MCOCA slapped on accused

Polls 2008: Chhattisgarh
65 to 70 pc voting in Round II
Chief Minister Ajit Jogi’s vehicle was attacked in Girivar village in his constituency Marwahi and a complaint was received by the Election Commission against Chief Minister Raman Singh for allegedly defying the code of conduct. Other than that Chhattisgarh elections on Thursday largely passed off peacefully with 65 to 70 per cent electorate exercising their right to franchise.

People line up to vote during the second phase in Chhattisgarh in Deopuri village on the outskirts of Raipur on Thursday. — AFP

Madhya Pradesh
All’s not fair in electoral battle
All the political parties have not been fair to the fair sex. Both main rivals the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress have fielded candidates in 228 constituencies each. They are facing dissidence over the allotment of tickets and many aspirants have become 'turncoats' to remain in the fray.

Tribal refugees to play crucial role Aizawl/Agartala, November 20 About 35,000 Reang tribal refugees, sheltered in Tripura camps for the past 11 years following ethnic clashes with the majority Mizos, will play a crucial role in the December 2 assembly polls in Mizoram. The Reangs, also called Bru, are recognised as a primitive tribe and constitute about 10 per cent of Mizoram’s one million population. Clashes with the Mizos in October 1997 forced them to flee to Tripura.