Taslima arrives amid tight security
The controversial Bangladeshi writer, Ms. Taslima Nasreen, arrived here on Monday morning by a flight from Calcutta amidst tight security in the wake of protests planned by Muslim organisations against the release of Phitamphat, Marathi translation of her novel Shodh.

RSS provides a face-saving formula?
The stage has been set for a resolution of the impasse over the Gujarat Government's order permitting its employees to participate in RSS activities. As expected, the RSS chief, Mr. Rajendra Singh issued a statement of unconcern from Nagpur, more or less suggesting that the organisation would have no objection should Gujarat chose to rescind its pro-RSS move.

It is cultural terrorism: Sonia
The Congress(I) president, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, today launched a frontal attack on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Vajpayee Government. She challenged the Ministers in the Vajpayee Government who had an RSS background to clarify whether their allegiance was to the Constitution (which they swore by when taking the oath of office) or to the RSS oath (which swears by a Hindu rashtra).

India, China discuss security concerns
India and China today began the first ever bilateral security dialogue here on global and regional issues of mutual interest which were described as ``extensive and wide ranging''.

Lyngdoh quits
The Meghalaya Chief Minister, Mr. B. B. Lyngdoh, resigned tonight making way for the Speaker, Mr. E. K. Mawlong, to hold the reins.

Mamata's gesture
In a goodwill gesture towards her political archrival, the Railway Minister, Ms. Mamata Banerjee, has decided to waive the bill for the special train arranged to bring back the West Bengal Chief Minister, Mr. Jyoti Basu, here from Durgapur yesterday.

Over 60 naxals storm police station
Suspected naxals, believed to be members of the PWG military platoon and special guerrilla squads of Adilabad and Karimnagar district, today raided the Asarali police station in Ahiri in Maharashtra's Gadicharoli district.

My fight will go on: Taslima
Despite threats from fundamentalists, the Bangladeshi writer, Ms. Taslima Nasreen, has vowed to continue the fight against communalism and fundamentalism. In exile for several years, the internationally-acclaimed author of Lajja is still unmoved.

OPEC to step up production
OPEC will increase production by nearly one million barrels per day in April, a senior official from a member of the organisation of oil exporting countries said today.

Six killed in engines smash
Six persons were killed and 50 injured, including policemen, when two pilot engines collided head-on near Sonehersa Kutchery station on Saharsa-Mansi section of the East Central Railway in Bihar today, railway sources said.

PM effects minor reshuffle
The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, today effected a minor reshuffle of portfolios of Ministers following the shifting of Mr. Nitish Kumar and Mr. Naveen Patnaik, as Chief Ministers of Bihar and Orissa respectively.

Taslima backs Deepa Mehta
Taslima Nasreen today said she supported film-maker, Ms. Deepa Mehta, whose proposed film, `Water', incurred the wrath of the Sangh Parivar.

Shiv Sena offices raided
Delhi police today raided Shiv Sena offices across the capital, including the party's city unit headquarters in northeast Delhi and seized weapons including swords, tridents and ``other material'', police sources said tonight.