Wednesday, April 24, 2002, Chandigarh, India
 Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Censure move on Gujarat admitted
New Delhi, April 23
Even as the Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the seventh day in succession without transacting any business, the six-day impasse in the Lok Sabha over the Opposition’s demand to discuss the Gujarat issue under Rule 184 entailing voting, ended today with Deputy Speaker P.M. Sayeed admitting the censure motion.
In video (28k, 56k)

8 die in Gujarat violence
Ahmedabad, April 23
Eight more deaths in Ahmedabad city today pushed the toll in the post-Godhra communal violence in Gujarat to 822 as curfew was extended to some more areas.
In video (28k, 56k)

Nation page: Oppn urges NDA allies to vote against govt Ruling on motion unfortunate: PM A woman walks past a burnt vehicle in Ahmedabad as Gujarat reeled under fresh clashes on Tuesday.  — Reuters photo

Poverty due to poor governance
PM releases first human development report
New Delhi, April 23
Holding corruption and poor governance responsible for continuing poverty, India’s first Human Development report prescribed drastic action, including Constitutional amendments for speedy devolution of power and better accountability of Panchayati Raj Institutions.

• Police remand for Sidhu’s middleman

• Editorial: A product of the system

Commission to probe ‘misdoings’ of Badal govt
Chandigarh, April 23
The Punjab Government today ordered the setting up of a one-man commission of inquiry to probe “irregularities, illegalities, corruption and other misdoings” of the previous government headed by Mr Parkash Singh Badal. 

• Setting up of commission ‘politically motivated’

African envoys’ visit called off
New Delhi, April 23
The unstopping communal frenzy in Gujarat has dealt still another diplomatic blow to India as because of this a three-day visit by Ambassadors of 20 African countries to Srinagar, which was scheduled to begin tomorrow, has been called off.

Border farmers on razor’s edge
Indo-Pakistan Border, April 23
Caught between the devil and the deep sea, a large population of the border belt including Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Ferozepore have been living a life of penury because of stand off between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of December 13 attack on Parliament.

In video (28k, 56k) Crops go up in flames in mine blasts in a border village of Amritsar district.  — Photo Rajeev Sharma

Rattan reverses Ahluwalia’s decision Affiliation to 15 IT institutes to go Patiala, April 23 In the first major reversal of a policy decision of ousted Punjabi University Vice-Chancellor Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, the new incumbent has made his intention clear to withdraw affiliation to all Information technology institutions recognised by the university before the start of the next academic session. New VC wants office de-bugged