MPs bicker over price-rise
New Delhi, April 15
Opposition and Left parties today stepped up pressure on the government on the issue of spiralling prices of essential commodities in the country on the opening day of the second part of the Budget session in Parliament, forcing the adjournment of both Houses for the day.

in video (56k)

Differences stall CCP meet

Rahul for Top Job
Sycophancy, says Cong
New Delhi, April 15
After the Congress formally ticked off its leaders for indulging in sycophancy for orchestrating the “Rahul for Prime Minister” campaign, party president Sonia Gandhi met HRD minister Arjun Singh this evening to seek a clarification on his statement in this regard.

I met Nalini, says Priyanka
New Delhi, April 15
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra today confirmed she had met Nalini, a conspirator in her father Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination.

Video: Rahul supports Priyanka's decision. (56k)

Capt vs Bhattal
Cong panel calls halt to spat
New Delhi, April 15
Even as the Congress high command is trying to defuse the public squabble between Amarinder Singh and Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, members of the Punjab Congress Coordination Committee today told the party’s state in charge Margaret Alva that the “dissent” by Amarinder was harming the party.

PSEB wants cuts; its boss had said there won’t be any
Chandigarh, April 15
Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) chairman Y. S. Ratra has assured consumers in the state that there will be no power cuts this summer even though the board had filed a petition before the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) seeking permission to impose power cuts in the coming five months.

PSEB wants cuts; its boss had said there won’t be any
Chandigarh, April 15
Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) chairman Y. S. Ratra has assured consumers in the state that there will be no power cuts this summer even though the board had filed a petition before the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) seeking permission to impose power cuts in the coming five months.

Indian diaspora major force: Pratibha
Sao Paulo (Brazil), April 15
President Pratibha Patil today said the 25-million strong Indian diaspora was emerging as a major economic and social force prompting initiatives to woo them to help the country of their origin.

Visa applications of Sarabjit’s kin
sent to Islamabad
New Delhi, April 15
The Pakistan High Commission has forwarded the visa applications of the kin of Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh, who is on death row, to Islamabad for clearance. “I spoke to the Pakistan High Commission officials today. They informed me that our visa applications have been sent to Islamabad and it will get back to us as soon as it hears from the government there,” said Singh’s sister Dalbir Kaur, who has been campaigning for his release.

After royal drub, royal end? The Communist Party of Nepal-Maoists that is nearing a clear majority in the poll fray under the direct election for 240 seats are also leading the ongoing vote count under the proportional representation (PR) electoral system. According to the Election Commission (EC) of Nepal, the Maoists have secured 37.14 per cent of total counted votes in 62 out of 240 constituencies across the country.