Mulayam-led Third Front fails to impress BJD, AIADMK
New Delhi, August 31
Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav’s attempts to forge a Third Front around the ongoing coal blocks allocation controversy failed today with the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the AIADMK refusing to support his strategy.

SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav with TDP and Left leaders protest the continued disruption of Parliament in New Delhi on Friday. Tribune photo: Mukesh Aggarwal Editorial: Third Front speaks up

BJP: Mulayam’s front is UPA’s Team B
New Delhi, August 31
The BJP today took a dim view of the demonstration by Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav and some other parties in support of their demand for a fair probe and debate in Parliament on the CAG report on coal block allocations, describing those who participated in the ‘dharna’ as the ‘B Team’ of the UPA government. The main Opposition party strongly condemned the criticism of the CAG by Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh, accusing the ruling coalition of making a mockery of constitutional institutions.

Refund Rs 24K cr to investors, SC tells two Sahara firms 
New Delhi, August 31
In a jolt to the Sahara Group, the Supreme Court today directed two of its companies, Sahara India Real Estate Corporation (SIRECL) and Sahara Housing Investment Corporation (SHICL) to refund Rs 24,029 crore they had collected in 2008-09.

Jalandhar girl’s suicide
Woman inspector suspended; Sukhbir orders probe
Jalandhar, August 31
Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has asked the Inspector General of Jalandhar Zone to conduct a thorough inquiry into the death of a college girl who ended her life yesterday after being ‘harassed and humiliated’ by the police and some photojournalists.
Editorial: Driven to suicide 

Gujarat riots: Life term for Kodnani, Bajrangi, 29 others
Ahmedabad, August 31
A special court today awarded life imprisonment to BJP MLA Maya Kodnani, Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi and 29 others for the 2002 riots here at Naroda Patiya where 97 persons were killed.