S P O T L I G H T

Ram Temple at any cost: VHP
NEW DELHI, Nov 1 (PTI) — The VHP today declared that the Ram Temple would be constructed at Ayodhya at any cost and said the date for the commencement of the construction work would be decided at the “dharma sansad” to be held during Kumbh Mela in Prayag in January next. VHP senior Vice-President Acharya Giriraj Kishore made the announcement a day after BJP President Bangaru Laxman warned that “law will take the course it deems fit” if the VHP went ahead with the construction plan irrespective of the stand of the government and the Supreme Court. Mr Kishore said the VHP would like to go ahead with the construction work without violating law and avoiding confrontaion with the government.

PMK serves notice on Shanmugham
PONDICHERRY, Nov 1 (UNI) — Pattali Makkal Katchi (pmk)local unit spokesman V. Rajasekeran has served a legal notice on Chief Minister p. shanmugham asking him to vacate the “Selva mansion”, his present residence. Accusing the Chief Minister of illegally occupying the place, Mr Rajasekeran told reporters here that he had asked Mr Shanmugham to vacate the place within 15 days.

Deadlock in House
JAIPUR, Nov 1 (PTI) — The Rajasthan Assembly today witnessed about 20 minutes of deadlock leading to adjournment twice on the issue of farmers’ rally outside the Assembly by a joint front of the CPI, CPM, JD (S) and various farmers’ organisations protesting power crisis. Opposition members, led by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr B.S. Shekhawat, stalled the official business and raised anti-government slogans.

Fire in slum
NEW DELHI, Nov 1 (FOC) — Around 750 jhuggi clusters were gutted in a fire that broke out in slum area near Indira Gandhi Stadium in the heart of the city at around 2.25 p.m. today, fire brigade sources said. About 20 firetenders were pressed into service to control “the medium size fire” in Kanchan Puri.