We have right to build defences in J&K: India
Citing sponsorship of cross-border terrorism by Pakistan, India today asserted its right to construct ``defensive structures'' in Jammu and Kashmir as and when required.

SC to hear Govt. plea today
The Supreme Court will hear tomorrow an application from the Delhi Government seeking permission to allow buses and autorickshaws less than eight years old to run for another week if the owners had filed affidavits indicating they had placed firm orders either for purchase or conversion of their vehicles to the CNG mode.

'Govt. ready for JPC probe into stocks scam'
The Government has declared its willingness to have a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the multi- crore stock market scandal which led to the arrest of Mr. Ketan Parekh and other big brokers on suspicion that they had manipulated the market causing loss of crores of rupees to thousands of small investors throughout the country.

Cong. not for sharing power with PMK
The Congress today reiterated that it would not be part of any power-sharing arrangement with the PMK in Pondicherry.

Trinamool against friendly contests
The Trinamool Congress today reiterated that it would not agree to any ``friendly fight'' with the Congress on 18 Assembly seats even as the two parties had reached agreement on 276 of the 294 seats.

Vajpayee to undergo surgery on second knee
Dr. Chittaranjan Ranawat, the U.S.-based orthopaedic surgeon, has advised the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, to go in for a second knee replacement surgery, though the date has not yet been fixed. Mr. Vajpayee had invited Dr. Ranawat to dinner when the latter was here to receive the Padma Bhushan. The doctor then suggested that it would be better if Mr. Vajpayee underwent the second knee replacement.

Hearing on April 9
Mr. Justice Malai Subramanian today posted for April 9, hearing on the AIADMK general secretary, Ms. Jayalalitha's application seeking a stay of the judgment in the TANSI land deal cases to enable her to contest in the coming Assembly elections.

DA hike for Central staff
The Government today decided to give an additional two per cent DA to the Central Government staff and two per cent Dearness Relief to pensioners. The payments would come into effect from January 1.

Blasts case accused shot
An accused in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case was today shot dead by two persons at Dongri in south Mumbai.