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Supreme Court reduces compensation for Uphaar victims

New Delhi:  The Supreme Court has reduced compensation awarded by the Delhi High Court for victims of the 1997 Uphaar cinema fire tragedy.

The High Court had in 2003, awarded Rs 18 lakh each for the next of kin of victims over 20 years of age; Rs 10 lakh for victims below 20 years of age; and Rs 1 lakh each to the injured.

Many BJP leaders capable of becoming PM: Yashwant Sinha

New Delhi: Amid a Modi-versus-Advani debate, senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha has said there are many "capable" Prime Ministerial candidates in the party, including himself, but a decision on whether or not to project anybody would be taken close to the Lok Sabha elections only. Sinha also sought to downplay the reports of differences between BJP leader L K Advani and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

2 held for attacking Prashant Bhushan

New Delhi: Two youths, who escaped after attacking lawyer-activist Prashant Bhushan, were arrested here this morning, the police said. Tejinder Pal Singh Bagga and Vishnu Verma were apprehended from a place near Baba Kharak Singh Marg, they said. Bagga had yesterday said that he would surrender in a local court. One Inder Verma, who claimed to be the Delhi president of Sri Ram Sene, was arrested yesterday in connection with the incident

Telangana stir: Chief secretary told to engage JAC in talks

Hyderabad: Though Andhra Pradesh government appears to be in no mood to concede the demands of the Telangana Employees Joint Action Committee (TEJAC), it has asked Chief Secretary Pankaj Dwivedi to engage JAC leaders in talks to end the ongoing strike that entered the 31st day today. Members of the Cabinet sub-committee on employees issues met Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy in the Secretariat this afternoon and discussed the demands put forth by the TEJAC

Kudankulam project workers stopped, asked not to work

Chennai: Anti-nuclear power activists protesting against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project in Tamil Nadu on Thursday stopped its employees from going for work and requested them not to attend duty. "For the past five days, 106 people are on fast demanding scrapping of the nuclear power project. The government doesn't seem concerned with the protest while some officials are passing uncharitable comments about the protest. Hence, we have decided to take up the issue with the workers," People's Rights Movement coordinator S. Sivasubramanian said.