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Thursday, April 7, 2011, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 2:30 am (IST)

Hazare ignites public debate
* Day 2: Crusader continues fast for Lokpal Bill, Cong tries to mollify him
* Hazare shoots off a letter to the PM telling him not to ‘mislead’ the nation
* Urges him to stop finding faults and suspecting conspiracies in the movement
New Delhi, April 6
Support is pouring in for activist Anna Hazare from all quarters of society. From social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook to protests in major cities like Mumbai, people and social activists have unleashed a larger debate over corruption in public life. While the government is still trying to resolve this crisis in view of state elections, the debate has snowballed into a major political and social issue.

Under attack, Pawar quits GoM on corruption Activists heckle politicians A candlelight procession at India Gate in support of Anna Hazare’s crusade. — PTI

India expects to reap record harvest
New Delhi, April 6
India is estimated to harvest an all-time record output of 235.88 million tonne (MT) of foodgrains in the 2010-11 crop year (ending June), courtesy the highest-ever production of wheat and pulses. Addressing the Kharif Conference here, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said the third advance estimate figures available with him showed an all-time record production of foodgrains of 235.88 MT.

...but storage a big problem in Punjab

Badal seeks Rs 35,000-cr rural debt waiver
New Delhi, April 6
With just 10 months to go for Assembly polls in Punjab, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today asked the Centre for what is easily the “mother of all sops” for a state that is set for a three-cornered political battle. Badal, who is serving his fourth term as Chief Minister, today asked the Planning Commission for a whopping Rs 35,000 crore waiver to “free” all rural people of the state of outstanding debts.

2 more arrests in fake pilot scam
New Delhi, April 6
In yet another breakthrough in the fake pilot scam, the Delhi police has arrested two more DGCA officials for allegedly pushing the files of ineligible pilots for licence approval. According to the crime branch of the Delhi Police, the accused, Maha Jyoti Bhattacharya and Mohammad Ansari, were arrested for helping Hiren Nagar, a pilot, and Eknath Patil, a tout, procure commercial pilot licence.

China troops in PoK worry India
They have been developing infrastructure in border region in Tibet and Xinjiang regions
New Delhi, April 6
The presence of Chinese troops in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) has been causing anxiety to New Delhi, which has started strengthening infrastructure along the border. Responding to media reports about the involvement of China’s PLA (People’s Liberation Army) troops in various infrastructure projects in PoK, External Affairs Minister SM Krishna told reporters here today that the government was seized of media reports on the subject.

Peacekeeping: UN wants India to play bigger role
Ops becoming more complex due to non-state actors in conflict zones, says Army Chief
New Delhi, April 6
The United Nations today said that it wanted more cooperation from India in bringing peace to conflict zones across the world. UN Assistant Secretary-General for Field Support Anthony Banbury, who is nowadays in the Capital, told reporters that the United Nations was looking “to further strengthen the partnership with India to meet growing challenges around the world” commensurate with the country’s emergent stature.

With moist eyes, devotees pray for Sai Baba Puttaparthi (AP), April 6 With anxiety writ large on their faces, thousands of devotees of spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba thronged this tiny village in Andhra Pradesh as the condition of the ailing godman continues to be critical following multi-organ dysfunction. The anxiety is turning into anger at some places as the devotees are confronting local authorities in the face of conflicting reports about the health condition of 86-year-old Sai Baba who has been on ventilator and renal-support system for the past one week.