Shamed And Crippled
With Tehelka.com's spy-camera taking a heavy political toll after the damning revelations of corruption in defence deals, the beleaguered Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government will have an uphill task restoring its credibility and undoing the damage to its image.

BJP: Old Hype

Interview:
Bangaru Laxman

Jaya Jaitly:
Jhola To Purse

Opposition: On A Roll

INDIA TODAY-ORG-MARG Poll: Outraged !

Defence Establishment
: Surgery For Graft

Interview: G. Fernandes

Barak Missiles:
Off The Mark

Tehelka:
Sting Theory

Highlights Of The Findings

Rakesh Kumar Jain: Gasbag Man

Wheeling A Good Deal
The battle for BALCO degenerates into a political chess match between Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, and Union Disinvestment Minister Arun Shourie. Jogi holds most of the aces at the moment--but will he play them all when it could mean loss of investments to the state?

The New Targets
The 60,000 policemen in Kashmir are caught in a dilemma. On the one hand, they are the target of militant attacks, and, on the other, the Army sees them with suspicion. It is not just themselves, but their families that the policemen worry about as they struggle to battle militancy and falling morale.

Crisis Of Confidence While stock prices haven't recovered since the collapse of March 2, the panic has spread from Mumbai to Kolkata. Underlying the fear is a deepening fear of the Securities and Exchange Board of India's will or capacity to regulate the stockmarkets.

Escape to Victory
Down and virtually out, India create a miracle at the Eden Gardens to stun the Australians and break their winning streak.

Mixing Metaphors Music, dance, and tourism synthesise in the famed textile centre of Maheshwar to provide sustainable synergies for its growth.

COVER STORY: TEHELKA

Highlights Of The Findings

"So far, we have been taking the help of Brajesh Mishra to organise ... because he is on a number
of committees ...

"He also has access to defence, foreign and other related ministries ... Ranjan Bhattacharya is a family member of prime minister. He does some things, but these things I don't think he will get involved. I don't say that he might be involving himself in many other things, but as far as defence things are concerned, I don't think he has much."
-Bangaru Laxman, former president, BJP

"Please send this (money) to our minister Mr Srinivas Prasad. He is hosting the National Council (of the Samata Party) ... If there is any way they (defence ministry) are refusing to test it, we can step into the picture. If they don't, we can always say, 'Look you must not treat anybody unfairly'."
-Jaya Jaitly, former president, Samata Party

"PM told Bangaru, whatever Gupta says, do it ... In one deal, I killed both Ranjan and Brajesh. Got through directly. PM blasted him ... Brajesh's price is one crore ... I have direct relations with the defence secretary. We have already tied up with Jaya Jaitly. Defence minister, one or two per cent. We'll settle with Jaya. It's her job to give or not give him. Our file is signed. She takes the money."
-R.K. Gupta, RSS worker and middleman

MetroScape
Pop Corn
"You are the best audience in the whole world," the Vengaboys tell raving crowds
in Delhi.
more...

Looking Glass

Delhi Exhibition:
Pop To Classic

Delhi Restaurant:
San Gimignano

Mumbai Accessories Store: Watches Of Switzerland

Bangalore Concert: Deep Purple

A bloody crackdown on Naxalites in the south-eastern fringes of Uttar Pradesh proves that only developmental programmes, not guns, can help fight the menace. INDIA TODAY's Special Correspondent Subhash Mishra explains why in
Despatches.