Manpreet treads cautiously
No fresh taxes in Punjab; duty on 
power up by 3 pc
Chandigarh, March 16
In presenting a virtual tax-free Rs 3787.73-crore deficit Budget, Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal says that in spite of best of efforts at debt management, an inadequate support from the Centre is making the state struggle with mounting debt burden.

Youth, women to the fore in Gadkari team
New Delhi, March 16
BJP president Nitin Gadkari today pulled off a fine balancing act by announcing a please-all list of party office-bearers, 33 per cent of them being women. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje also features in the national executive list announced today. She stands rehabilitated as party general secretary after being made to quit as Leader of Opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly.

Rao: Tough to resume composite dialogue 
Washington, March 16
Voicing concern over Pakistan’s inaction against perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks, including Hafiz Saeed, India today warned that its restraint should not be confused with weakness and said it is “very, very difficult” to resume composite dialogue at present.              Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao

SC breather for Lt Gen Prakash in Sukna scam
New Delhi, March 16
The Supreme Court today stayed till March 29 the Army’s Court of Inquiry (COI) against Lt Gen Avadhesh Prakash (retd) in the Sukna land scam case.

Nuclear liability bill
It’s pro-US suppliers: Left
BJP to form panel of MPs and academics for expert view
New Delhi, March 16
The Left and the BJP today stepped up opposition to the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill 2010, with the latter deciding to form a shadow standing committee comprising its MPs and academics to frame expert opinion on controversial laws such as the N-liability Bill.
(Details on Nation page)

Discharged for being HIV+, airman reinstated after 10 yrs
Chandigarh, March 16
Over 10 years after an Air Force NCO was invalided out of service after being wrongly diagnosed as an AIDS patient, the Armed Forces Tribunal has ordered that he be reinstated in the service with all consequential service and medical benefits, including full back wages along with 12 per cent interest.

Pranab: Living on unlimited borrowing not possible
New Delhi, March 16
Issuing a strict warning on the high borrowings by the government, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said the nation couldn’t sustain on unlimited borrowing. India’s fiscal credibility will be seriously challenged if it indulges in extravaganza, said the Finance Minister while replying to debate on the General Budget in the Rajya Sabha here this evening.