AFSPA dilution divides all-party meet
l PDP, NC support revocation as BJP, Sena oppose it
l All-party delegation to visit Valley to assess situation  
New Delhi, September 15
As violence in Jammu and Kashmir showed no signs of abating, political leaders of all hues today set aside differences and endorsed the UPA Government’s move to send an all-party delegation to the troubled state. The delegation would take stock of the ground situation before a final political and economic solution could be worked out.
Protesters throw stones at a cop in Srinagar. — Reuters

1 killed, 20 hurt as clashes continue
Koran fury claims 4 lives in Poonch

Quota Stir
Bank, rly station attacked in Jind
Jind, September 15
While public property continued to be targeted by arsonists last night, the aftershocks of the Jat agitation continued to be felt in the district today with youths resorting to traffic blockades and protests.
Fire being doused at a mini bank in Darodi village of Jind which was torched by arsonists on Tuesday night. A Tribune photograph

Clashes reveal rift between Jats and non-Jats

The Tribune Ladakh Relief Fund: An Appeal To Readers

Bonanza for employees
PF interest rate hiked  to 9.5%
New Delhi, September 15
Ahead of the festival season, EPFO trustees today raised the interest rate on provident fund deposits to 9.5 per cent from 8.5 per cent, benefiting nearly 4.71 crore employees of both public and private sectors.

HSGPC men clash with cops, block rail traffic
Kurukshetra, September 15
Enraged over the preventive arrest of Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (ad hoc) president Jagdish Singh Jhinda and some other prominent leaders, hundreds of HSGPC supporters today blocked rail traffic for four hours and clashed with the police to force their entry into Gurdwara Chhevin Patshahi and laid a siege to the gurdwara.
HSGPC protesters let off steam on a rail track in Kurukshetra on Wednesday. A Tribune photograph

Five weeks after floods, Leh-Manali road opens 
September 15
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) opened the Leh-Manali highway, damaged in the August 6 flashfloods, to light vehicles yesterday.  
A car manoeuvres its way on the Leh-Manali highway near Upshi village, 50 km from Leh, on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Anand Sharma 

A R Rahman
The Last Word
The Rahman Effect
A lesser man would have reacted immediately. But trust the “Mozart of Madras” Allah Rakha Rahman not to utter a word in defence of his Commonwealth theme song “Swagatham” that earned him flak for being too slow and lyrics being simplistic and juvenile from all and sundry. 

 

57th National Film Awards Idiots steal the show with Paa New Delhi, September 15 Aamir Khan-starrer ‘3 Idiots’ was today adjudged the best popular film providing wholesome entertainment while mega-star Amitabh Bachchan was named the best actor for his performance in ‘Paa’ in the 57th National Film Awards.