The Indian Express The Financial Express Latest News Elections '98 Express Investment Week Market Indicators Screen Express Computers Travel & Tourism Advertisers Forum Information Technology Drumbeat: Ad Buzzaar Astrosurf Eco-India Career India Business Forum Match Maker Express Properties

Politics Business Expressions General Sports Leisure States 10 February 1998   Sonia on offensive in TN, seeks clear mandate Sonia Gandhi for the first time today indirectly attacked the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) for its tie-up in Tamil Nadu with the DMK which has been indicted by the Jain Commission probing the security aspect of Rajiv Gandhi assassination. She also accused certain political parties of dividing the people on caste and religious lines and sowing seeds of jealousy, insecurity and suspicion.   RSS decides to back Kalmadi In a major political development, top Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) leaders have assured Pune Vikas Aghadi (PVA) candidate Suresh Kalmadi of full support in the election. Kalmadi is also said to have sought the blessings of RSS leaders saying that he would work to ensure that Atal Behari Vajpayee becomes the prime minister. HC show-cause notice to key JMM witness The Delhi High Court has issued a notice to a key CBI witness Devinder Mukhia in the multi-crore JMM MPs bribery case asking to show cause why contempt proceedings be not initiated against him for allegedly retracting statements given under oath. Justice Usha Mehra asked the respondent to file his reply by the next date. Muslims move away from fatwa politics Even as the Shahi Imam Syed Abdullah Bhukhari reportedly plans to issue a fatwa on Friday to announce the names of candidates the Muslims should vote for, a large number of Muslims in the Walled City feel that fatwa politics should end and they should be able to vote for candidates of their choice.   US, Israel hold low-key meet on Iraq Israeli and United States defence ministers met discreetly in Germany amid reports that Washington is growing concerned that Israel could over-react if attacked by Iraq in the crisis over UN arms inspections. US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright has said that a US assault would come in weeks rather than months if Iraq continued to hamper UN inspectors. Public hurled abuses at me, says Azhar Indian cricket captain Azharrudin has defended his stance in the "cap stealing" contyroversy. He says that he had exercised restrain all through the practice session and lost his temper only when the cap had been snatched away from him.   SPORTS   Hooper stays cool in crisis to steer WI home   Paes hit by tournament cancellation EXPRESSIONS   Dynasty keeps away from Feroze Gandhi's neglected tombstone   Who is to blame for Babri demolition? BUSINESS   Aptech announces 1:1 bonus   Tighter norms for futures trading GENERAL   Home is where insecurity is for Pandits left in the Valley   Naipaul sees a million wounds still smarting in India POLITICS   Sena-BJP Govt accused of plans to sell state land   Citizens seek power to veto poor quality politicians