The Supercrat
Brajesh Mishra, Vajpayee's principal secretary, has emerged as a strong power centre. But his critics say he has bitten off more than he can chew and has become the target of a proxy war against the prime minister.

Going Beyond Square One
India and Pakistan make subtle shifts in their positions on Kashmir, raising hopes of a renewed dialogue and restoration of peace. Much will depend on what happens during Ramzan.

Fifth Column
by Tavleen Singh
Multinational Myths

Prime Movers

Action Manifested

VOICES

"We socialists never supported cricket. Ram Manohar Lohia had once said that cricket was a waste of time and a colonial hangover."
Nitish Kumar, Union agriculture minister, admitting that Samata Party President Jaya Jaitley's defence of tainted cricketer Ajay Jadeja had damaged the party's image

"If things go at this rate, it will take 800 years for all villages in Bihar to be electrified."
Suresh Prabhu, Union power minister, in the Lok Sabha, provoking a walk-out by Bihar's ruling Rashtriya Janata Dal MPs

"I will work hard now. I will practise politics with a stable mind."
Uma Bharati, Union sports minister, who returned to the Cabinet after six months of self-imposed political exile, at a press meet in Bhopal, which she represents in the Lok Sabha

VIS-A-VIS

"The railway minister's job entails much more than flagging off new trains and painting railway coaches."
Jyoti Basu, Former West Bengal Chief Minister

"I am putting in 17 hours a day in the ministry, yet I cannot prevent accidents like these."
Mamata Banerjee, Union Railway Minister

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MetroScape
Celebrating India
Trikaya Grey of Delhi and Concept Communication of Mumbai, tied for the top at India Today's "My India My Pride" ad contest. So they were given an equitable deal of Rs 7.5 lakh each.
more...

Looking Glass

Mumbai: Restaurants

Bangalore: Concert

Delhi: Restaurant

Ayodhya is an issue that is pre-determined. And it matters little in the present fuss that the foremost casualty is the truth, writes INDIA TODAY Deputy Editor Swapan Dasgupta in
Day Dreams.

Orissa's Chilika, the largest brackish water lake in Asia, is dying. But there is a concerted effort to restore its health. INDIA TODAY Special Correspondent Ruben Banerjee takes a look at the diagnosis and treatment in Despatches.