S P O T L I G H T

Processing of gas station stayed
Mumbai, April 9
Union Petroleum Minister Ram Naik today said the processing of petrol station allotment to Ms Lily George, wife of Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s personal secretary Vincent George, had been stayed. Talking to mediapersons in the Vidhan Bhavan press room, Mr Naik said the further processing of the offer had been stayed till a satisfactory explanation about the compassionate grounds on which Ms George was given a petrol station in 1991 is received. The minister informed that the file regarding the allotment was missing and added that he came to know about the matter when he was pursuing the issue of making land available to kin of Kargil martyrs. UNI

Habib Tanveer to get Chaman Lal Award
New Delhi, April 9
Renowned theatre personality Habib Tanveer will receive the Chaman Lal memorial life-time achievement award for his contribution to theatre. Rajya Sabha member Shabana Azmi will give away the awards for this year at a function to be held here on April 14. The other awardees are Dr Mahendra Kumar (Chandigarh) for stage craft and Prema Karanth (Bangalore) for costume design. UNI

Gold, silver idols stolen from temple
Nasik, April 9
Gold and silver idols were stolen by unindentified persons from Mahalaxmi Temple at Dokaddara village in Niphad taluka of the district on Sunday, the police said here on Monday. The theft came to light this morning when a devotee noticed the missing idols and informed the villagers, who lodged a complaint with the Niphad police. PTI