S P O T L I G H T

Manipur legislators threaten to quit
New Delhi, July 7
Politicians from Manipur today threatened to resign from the state legislature and Parliament and set the Centre a deadline of July 31 to withdraw the ceasefire with Naga rebels NSCN (I-M) from the geographical territory of Manipur. A coordination committee comprising 14 MLAs, three former ministers, the Speaker of the Assembly and MPs, under the banner of MPs and MLAs’ Forum for Territorial Integrity is meeting the Prime Minister tomorrow evening to discuss the issue. The convener of the forum, Mr Chandramani Singh, said a memorandum would be submitted to the Prime Minister “reflecting the developments in Manipur after the central team visited the state.” TNS

Bush cuts aid
Washington, July 7
The US President, Mr George W. Bush, has proposed a cut in the aid to India and other third world countries to help them combat global warming. Mr Bush, while asking the Congress for nearly $ 4 billion to address climate change — roughly the same as last year — proposed reducing assistance to other countries by $ 41 million from last year’s $ 165 million. The cuts are to be made from programmes intended to help India, Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, South Africa and Ukraine. PTI

Zardari ‘kidnapped’
Islamabad, July 7
Making a sensational allegation, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has said party chief Benazir Bhutto’s imprisoned husband Asif Ali Zardari was kidnapped from a hospital here and taken to an unknown destination by state officials only to surface later at Hyderabad in southern Sindh province. PTI

TN Judge’s security beefed up
Chennai, July 7
The police today beefed up security for Principal Sessions Judge (PSJ) Ashok Kumar, who has allegedly been receiving threatening calls in the wake of severe strictures passed by him while hearing the bail petitions of the accused in the multi-crore flyover scam. A city police release today said a sub-inspector of police and two more constables have been provided to the judge since last night in addition to the existing strength of three constables and an officer. PTI

Stalin released
Madurai, July 7
The prime accused in the Rs 12 crore flyover scam, Chennai Mayor and son of DMK chief M. Karunanidhi, M.K. Stalin, was released from Central Jail here today on bail. Mr Stalin, lodged in the prison here since June 30, was granted conditional bail yesterday by the Principal Sessions Judge (PSJ), Chennai. A copy of the bail order was handed over to the jail authorities by Mr Stalin’s lawyer this morning. PTI

Maran meets Advani
New Delhi, July 7
Senior DMK leader and Union Commerce Minister Murasoli Maran today met Union Home Minister L.K.Advani and apprised him of the situation in Tamil Nadu. Mr Maran, however, refused to say what transpired during the meeting. The senior DMK leader is understood to have discussed with the Home Minister the threats reportedly being faced by Chennai Principal Sessions Judge Ashok Kumar, who is dealing with flyover scam case. PTI