Newsreel: 13.07.03

• WITH threat rather than compromise being the Sangh’s key theme, the most-watched attempt towards a ‘‘negotiated, out-o...

• WITH threat rather than compromise being the Sangh’s key theme, the most-watched attempt towards a ‘‘negotiated, out-of-court settlement’’ of the Ayodhya dispute — which has haunted the political landscape for over 15 years — gets a noisy burial as the All India Muslim Personal Board (AIMPLB) rejects a proposal by the Shankaracharya of Kanchi mutt, Swami Jayendra Saraswathi. Giving up his efforts to resolve the Ayodhya tangle for now, the Kanchi Shankaracharya says the doors were open to Muslims for discussions but the AIMPLB says it would not take the initiative for a dialogue.

• FOURTEEN years ago, in this state of Himachal Pradesh, the BJP launched the politics of Hindutva through its Palampur Resolution backing the Ramjanmabhoomi movement. It then grew from two seats in the Lok Sabha to the leader of the ruling coalition. In Himachal Pradesh, where the BJP launched the politics of Hindutva through Palampur Resolution 14 years ago, an assertive and self-confident Sonia Gandhi launches the fightback, promising to ‘‘reclaim’’ the Congress’s ‘‘rightful place’’ at the helm of the nation by providing a ‘‘steady and soothing’’ hand to heal ‘‘the wounds inflicted on the nation by thee destructive and dangerous policies of the BJP.’’ In a significant shift, the party says it is open to form a coalition with secular parties at the Centre.

• THE decades-old Bofors kickback case survived the vagaries of the higher judiciary as the Supreme Court upholds the CBI’s appeal and orders resumption of the trial against the Hinduja brothers.

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• IN what could precipitate into deep fractures in the Hurriyat, People’s Conference (PC) chairman Sajjad Gani Lone implicates rebel and veteran hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani in the assassination of his father Abdul Gani Lone. Lone alleges Geelani had struck a ‘‘deal with Indians while in jail’’ to split the Hurriyat at a crucial time in the Indo-Pak peace process. On his part, Geelani dismisses the charges as ‘‘kiddish’’

• Maruti, the original people’s car, finally goes to public — in grand style. The Maruti Udyog Limited (MUL) scrip rides into the stock market, making a debut at Rs 157, a 26-per cent premium to its issue price of Rs 125 per share. The largest car maker in the country thus completed the largest initial public offering (IPO) in four years. Underscoring India’s outsourcing boom is intact, software bellwether Infosys Technologies Ltd reports a 28-per cent jump in quarterly profit and bumps up its full-year forecast.

• JUST days after her mother came out and told The Indian Express that she had lied in court ‘‘trembling with fear’’, in the Best Bakery case, Zaheera Sheikh alleges that a BJP MLA and a Congress councillor were among those who threatened them to change their testimony. And she says she is ready to tell the truth if there was a re-trial, preferably outside Gujarat. On its part, the Gujarat government says that it’s waiting for the report from the public prosecutor — and legal opinion — before it decides on an appeal against the acquittal of all 21 accused.

• WIMBLEDON celebrated Martina Navratilova’s 20th Grand Slam when she paired with Leander Paes to win the mixed doubles title. But Paes’ win was overshadowed by Sania Mirza’s unexpected triumph in girl’s doubles. India laid down the red carpet for its first female Grand Slam winner. Another surprise was the giant-killing spree of the under-19 volleyball team at the World Youth Cup in Thailand. Hockey’s age-old grudge of not being on par with cricket finally moved the sponsors. Like the Men in Blue, Dhanraj’s boys too will now be sporting the Sahara logo.