Tags:
Journalism of Courage
• The Government couldn’t have asked for more in J-K. A visible victory for democracy in a state where few gave it a chance, on the same day as a certain general was lording over a sham spectacle across the border.
After a healthy turnout and a healthier ‘‘free and fair’’ report card by more than one independent agency, J-K gives a royal boot to the Abdullahs for the first time in 27 years and ushers in hopes of a new era.
While the Congress and PDP are still deciding the equations to share power, after a long time, the Government is on firm ground on J-K. And not even ruing the BJP’s poor performance in the state.
• Salman Khan’s brush with the real world is nowhere near a happy ending. Told to pay Rs 19 lakh as interim compensation to the people he allegedly ran over in his Toyota Landcruiser, his police custody extended till October 14, the star is sharing a cell with mosquitoes, drug addicts and robbers.
The last two, according to a report, hum his hit songs to his face as Salman listens in stoic silence. But that’s the least of his problems. The mystery over who owns the Toyota Landcruiser has now expanded into an investigation into the entire racket of stars acquiring foreign cars.
• With his disinvestment policy under the threat of going offtrack, PM A.B. Vajpayee steps out and tells the ‘rebel’ minister troika of George Fernandes, Murli Manohar Joshi and Ram Naik to put up or shut up.
Before he leaves on his foreign tour, Vajpayee keeps them hanging around for a meeting and when he grants them an audience, tells them that he would part company with them rather than give up the policy.
Meanwhile, Advisor to Fiance Minister Vijay Kelkar proposes a ‘‘halfway house’’ formula for the disinvestment of BPCL and HPCL, under which the former would be partially privatised and the latter strategically sold, but only to global bidders.
• Tamil Nadu and Karnataka head for a showdown as the latter refuses to implement the SC order to release 0.8 tmc ft of Cauvery waters to Tamil Nadu, as directed by the CRA. As farmers hold agitations in Karnataka and neighbouring Tamil Nadu comes to a virtual standstill in protest, with film stars and cable TV guys joining it, S.M. Krishna heads out on a padayatra.
• Jayalalithaa puts yet another seal on her ties with the BJP by passing an ordinance that bans religious conversions by ‘‘force or fraud’’ in the state, earning a pat on the back from the Sangh but criticism from Christian organisations.
• However, in Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati’s jumbo Cabinet expansion leaves ally BJP shaken as important leaders of the party are ignored. She inducts 57 new faces, taking her ministry strength to 80.
• For once, sports is a case of only good news as India’s athletes rain gold at Busan, Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi find the magic touch again in the final at Asiad Games, India beat Pak in a scintillating hockey match and the cricket team takes firm control of the first Test against the visiting West Indies at home.
Also, the kabaddi team wins its fourth Asian title. To make the victory sweeter, Shoaib Akhtar’s deadly spell fails to inspire Pak against Australia
• The Group of Ministers on Fertilisers submits a draft policy that aims at reducing the subsidy on fertilisers. The policy also aims at partial decontrol of the sector by making fertiliser companies accountable for their efficiency.
