Wednesday, February 9, 2011, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 2:30 am (IST)

Govt blinks on JPC as Oppn holds its ground
No price high enough to make the House run: Pranab
New Delhi, February 8
After two months of rigid posturing on the Opposition’s persistent demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the 2G Spectrum scam, the government finally softened its stand today, indicating a willingness to concede to the same.

End the deadlock : Editorial

A Tribune Special
TRAI chief deviated from govt decision
New Delhi , February 8
Even as the CBI is continuing its interrogation of former Telecom Minister A. Raja in connection with the allocation of precious 2G Spectrum in 2008 on a first-come-first-serve basis, it has come to light that the first deviation in the Spectrum allocation occurred way back in 2003 when the then Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) chairman Pradip Baijal suggested deviation from the Union Cabinet decision on Spectrum allocation.

PMO, ISRO deny S-band Spectrum loss 
New Delhi, February 8
Reeling under fresh ammunition of corruption charges in the reported allocation of space segment S-band Spectrum to a private multi-media company, the government undertook a major fire-fighting exercise today, with the Prime Minster’s Office denying it outrightly while ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan saying that the decision to terminate the contract was taken in July 2010 and the process was still on. The ISRO chief also reiterated, “There is no financial loss incurred in this.”

A Tribune Investigation
This Punjab welfare officer is beyond law’s reach
Son of SAD-BJP ex-minister chargesheeted thrice but reinstated
Chandigarh, February 8
When a political party assumes power in a state, it can do anything, literally! At least that appears from the case of a Tehsil Welfare Officer, Manjit Singh, in Punjab. The son of its former Agriculture Minister Gurdev Singh Badal, the SAD government has thrice dropped chargesheets against Manjit Singh -- two cases related to absence from duty while one was that of rape.

Three chargesheets
Manjit Singh or Sube Singh?

Drug abuse is Punjab’s scourge: Dharmendra 
Take up sports, stay away from intoxicants, tells youth
Chandigarh, February 8
“Khao peo aish karo, par apni sehat da khyal rakho (eat, drink and make merry but take care of your health).” This was the advice for Punjabi youth from Bollywood’s He-man, Dharmendra.
Actor Dharmendra with Punjabi singer Hans Raj Hans in Chandigarh on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Pervesh Chauhan

2 GJM men killed in police firing
Army called out
Kolkata/Darjeeling, February 8
The Army was being deployed in violence-hit areas of Darjeeling district after two persons were killed today when the police opened fire to stop Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters from taking out a march in Jalpaiguri district defying prohibitory orders, sparking arson by GJM workers who torched government vehicles and offices. (Details on Nation page)

No outsider involved in Aarushi’s murder: CBI
Ghaziabad, February 8
Circumstantial evidence points to the involvement of dentist couple Rajesh and Nupur Talwar in the death of their teenaged daughter Aarushi and servant Hemraj, the CBI today told a local court. Special Judge for CBI cases Preeti Singh, who heard the matter for about three-and-a-half hours, reserved her order till tomorrow.

Sreesanth replaces Praveen in World Cup squad New Delhi, February 8 Kerala speedster S Sreesanth today replaced injured paceman Praveen Kumar in the Indian squad for the upcoming cricket World Cup starting later this month. Praveen who sustained an elbow injury during the South Africa ODI series failed to recuperate in time and was ruled out after it became clear that he won't be fit by the time India play their first match against Bangladesh on February 19. S Sreesanth