Quicktakes

Palkhivala gets Padma Vibhushan

NEW DELHI: Eminent jurist Nani Palkhivala and noted freedom fighter Lakshmi Sehgal have been awarded the coveted Padma Vibhushan, Hindi litterateur Bhisham Sahani Padma Bhushan while actress Zohra Segal and hockey star Pargat Singh have been bestowed Padma Shri in the Republic Day civilian honours announced today after a gap of six years. Sharing the Padma Vibhushan honour are Usha Mehta, a well-known social worker, and Walter Sisulu, a veteran hero in ANC8217;s struggle against apartheid regime and a close associate of President Nelson Mandela.

New BJP members

NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha Telugu Desam Party I member Dr D Venkateswara Rao today joined the BJP in the presence of party president L K Advani and A B Vajpayee. Dr Rao is the eldest son-in-law of late N T Rama Rao. Others who joined the party today included Sunil Shastri, son of former Prime Minister Lal Vahadur Shastri along with some of his colleagues. Former Haryana minister Mange Ram from Bahadurgarh and former Olympian Ajit Pal Singh also joined the party.