Booster III
Excise duty, service tax cut by 2 pc
New Delhi, February 24
Toeing the populist line, the Centre today announced a slew of sops for the ailing auto and cement sectors, reducing both excise duty and service tax rates by two per cent each to further stimulate the economy in the wake of a global financial crisis. UPA’s third economic stimulus package comes few days after Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee presented an Interim Budget in the Lok Sabha, evoking cold response from the industry.

26/11 Chargesheet today
20 more Pak names likely
Mumbai, February 24
The names of around 20 more Pakistan-based terrorists, including LeT top guns Yousuf Muzzamil and Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, were likely to figure in the chargesheet to be filed in connection with the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist strikes tomorrow, police said today.

India turns down Pak offer to resume dialogue
New Delhi, February 24
India today turned down Pakistan’s proposal to resume the bilateral dialogue process, saying Islamabad must do more to dismantle the terror infrastructure on its soil and punish the masterminds of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

Pak seeks voice recordings of Kasab’s ‘handlers’

‘Lanka must maintain sanctity of safe zone’
New Delhi, February 24
Seeking to mollify the agitated UPA allies from Tamil Nadu, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said India has requested the Sri Lankan government to facilitate evacuation of civilians caught in the ongoing conflict to safe zones through sea and land routes in the presence of international observers.

Farmer attempts self-immolation

Policemen detain a student during a protest against Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse in Chennai on Tuesday. — Reuters

Poll dates on March 4
New Delhi, February 24
The Election Commission (EC) in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the security agencies has almost prepared the schedule for the general elections that could run-up to six phases. This would entail large-scale movement of security personnel across the country and putting forces on the alert along the border and on the coastline.

Punjab’s first IIT takes shape
Ropar, February 24
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, known for his outbursts against the Congress-led UPA government for “giving a step-motherly treatment” to Punjab, today thanked union HRD minister Arjun Singh for “bestowing” the state with an IIT. He was speaking during the stone-laying ceremony of the IIT, Ropar, which already has its first batch students taking lessons at the IIT, Delhi, the mentor institute.

Dope test for kabaddi players
Jalandhar, February 24
With the use of performance enhancing drugs among kabaddi players on the rise, all players from Punjab playing in Canadian, U.K. and European Punjab style kabaddi circuits will be subjected to dope tests before leaving abroad. The kabaddi season in Canada, UK and other parts of the Europe will begin in May and end in August.

Haryana math exam cancelled
Bhiwani, February 24
The Haryana Board of School Education cancelled mathematics paper of class X, second semester, scheduled to be held today. According to reports, as the exam started, students were shocked to see the paper of the first semester. They protested against it and superintendents at the examination centres immediately contacted the board authorities.