Wednesday, June 21, 2006, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

2 former ministers arrested

Kashmir sex scandal New Delhi, June 20 Two former ministers, including Congress MLA Ghulam Ahmed Mir, were arrested by the CBI here today for their alleged involvement in the Jammu and Kashmir sex scandal.

Ghulam Ahmed Mir, Raman Mattoo

Kashmir sex racket: Lawyers refuse to plead case
Srinagar, June 20
The recently unearthed sex scandal involving former Jammu and Kashmir ministers and top security force and police officials took an interesting turn today when the lawyers for two accused informed the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Srinagar, that they would not plead their clients' case for bail.

BJP for speedy trial of J&K sex scandal case

Sonia flags off bus to Rawalkot

Urges separatists to join talks Poonch, June 20 The UPA Chairperson, Ms Sonia Gandhi, today urged the separatists to take part in the roundtable discussions initiated by the Congress- led government at the Centre that was committed to solve the Kashmir issue with “an open mind”. In video (28k, 56k) Congress President Sonia Gandhi presents a gift to a bus passenger from occupied Kashmir after flagging off the Poonch-Rawalkot bus service at Chakan-da-Bagh in Poonch district of J&K on Tuesday. — PTI photo

J&K page: Emotional moments mark flagging-off of bus to Rawalkot World page: Kashmir solution still a long way off, says US crisis group

Army Vice-Chief apologises
New Delhi, June 20
Having failed in its attempts to assuage the feelings of the fairer sex and the agitating women organisations through its intense fire-fighting measures, the Army today came out with an official apology from the Vice-Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen S. Pattabhiraman, on his reported remarks that forces could do without women.

Jagmeet Brar’s brother suspended from Cong
Chandigarh, June 20
The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president, Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo, continues to crack the whip against leaders who are allegedly violating party discipline.

India: The Tasks Ahead
   SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
125TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS,
INAUGURAL SESSION

	PUNJAB: Govt land sold ‘in connivance’ with Revenue officials
	HARYANA: 36 names sent to govt
	HIMACHAL: Bottlenecks on Dharamsala roads
	J&K: Emotional moments mark flagging-off of bus to Rawalkot
	CHANDIGARH: PU’s blow to BC candidates
	LUDHIANA: Marriage scam unearthed, 1 held
	DELHI: CM reviews flood control measures
	OPINIONS: Nathu La calling
	BUSINESS: Jet-Air Sahara deal hits turbulence
	NATION: Sahil being taken to Mumbai
	WORLD: Kashmir solution still a long way off, says US crisis group
	SPORTS: Klose double sees Germany to top spot

Congress for stern action against Punjab leaders
New Delhi, June 20
The Congress leadership has made it abundantly clear that it will not hesitate to crack the whip on squabbling party men in Punjab if they persist with their infighting.

Senior Apollo doctors questioned
New Delhi, June 20
The police today questioned three senior doctors of Apollo Hospital, including its medical director, in connection with the alleged fudging of medical reports of Rahul Mahajan when he was admitted there early this month with symptoms of drug overdose.

Nation page: Sahil being taken to Mumbai

Youth who burnt himself over “Fanaa” dies
Jamnagar, June 20
A youth, who set himself on fire on June 11 to protest the screening of Aamir Khan-starrer “Fanaa”, succumbed to his burns at Guru Govind Singh Hospital here today.

World page: Ban on Indian actors in Pak movies lifted

Japan PM announces Iraq troop withdrawal
Tokyo, June 20
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi announced on Tuesday that Japan will withdraw its troops from Iraq, ending the Japanese military's riskiest and most ambitious overseas mission since World War Two.

Tharoor says he won’t be an Indian agent, if elected New Delhi, June 20 Mr Shashi Tharoor, India’s nominee for the next United Nations Secretary General, tonight rubbished speculations of his becoming an Indian “agent” in case he was to get elected to the UN top job.