Newsreel: 25.08.02.

(From Indian Express)

» The petrol pump stain refuses to wash. This week, the Supreme Court puts paid to the Government's hopes that it had brushed the scam under the carpet by cancelling all dealerships since January 2000. Staying the order and demanding an explanation, the SC asks why couldn't the Government have waited to hear the dealers' side of the story. Now we have a chance to know. » Another ghost the Government hoped to have left in the past made a reappearance. Veerappan sneaked out of his forest hideaway, grabbed former Karnataka minister H. Nagappa, got on to a bus and slunk away with the quarry just ahead of an STF platoon, which refused to act without orders. Jayalalithaa blamed Karnataka. That ensured any hopes of a solution to the Cauvery water crisis drowned as well. » As letters poured into Express office over the plight of govt staff not paid for years in Bihar, Laloo and family maintained complete silence. But someone did speak up, Congress's Cooperatives Minister in the Rabri Cabinet, Veena Shahi, who asked her party to withdraw support. » The brown haze the UN talked of followed Environment Minister T.R. Baalu to the Earth Summit, with UNEP Director Klaus Topfer meeting him to know the Govt stand on the matter. India had earlier rejected the report. Brown haze, the UNEP report says, is caused by emissions from small vehicles, heavy diesel trucks, burning of trees, and smoke from stoves that burn wood and dried cowdung. Sounds familiar? » In J-K elections, those keeping out still continue to make more news than those who are fighting. Shabir Shah says almost yes before again pulling out. Hurriyat doesn't budge despite appeals from the US, but gets a shock when some members of ally People's Conference - including an associate of the slain Abdul Gani Lone - decide to contest. A bigger shock comes from Ladakh, where candidates of all political parties decide to boycott and instead form a front to demand Union territory status for the region. » After PM's rap and a study that says the BJP is losing control of Gujarat, Narendra Modi steers clear of the R-word the entire week, even courting rival Keshubhai Patel at the Narmada meet. In fact, the river provides good news for the state after a long time, as water from it fills Sabarmati for the first time in almost 20 years. Thousands throng bridges in the riot-torn city to see the sight. » ...