Say Hello to Another
Scam
The raging corporate war over the introduction of limited mobility telephone services has turned political, with the Prime Minister's Office being charged with subverting the regulatory system and favouring a few business houses. An INDIA TODAY investigation looks at the conflict between the sanctimonious claims and the grim reality.

Ballot Boxwallahs
The approaching assembly elections have brought to life five states which are set to witness a stiff fight and whose results can have a big impact on all major parties. A profile of the prime contenders who could tilt the balance either way.

Fall From Grace
Despite a triple-digit growth in net profits of Infosys Technologies and Satyam Computers, the stock prices of the two companies have plunged. Is it the gloomy forecast for software companies that's hammering down the prices?

Unnatural Alliance
The CNG controversy has taken a new turn, with doubts being raised about the propriety of the Delhi Government's selection of Nugas as the sole supplier of the conversion kit.

The Doon Boom
The city that houses Doon School is now playing host to a whole array of new education barons--with big money and even bigger ambitions.

COVER STORY: GOVERNMENT

Arbitrators

Following pressure, Vajpayee referred the WiLL dispute to a group on telecom

Yashwant Sinha: A harried finance minister will have to choose between the prestige of PMO officials and the costs of a revenue loss to the Government.	Arun Jaitley: The key person, he has to balance interests of the consumer and legal fair play with a shrewd calculation of the costs of disagreeing with the PMO.	Fali S. Nariman: The Rajya Sabha MP will apply his legal expertise to decide whether or not the fine print of the 1999 Telecom Policy was violated.	Sushma Swaraj: This former telecom minister has to keep her political antenna on full alert in view of her strained relations with the PMO in the past.
Pramod Mahajan: His natural preference is for liberating new technology from babudom. As the NDA's floor manager he must also see there's no political fallout.			N. Vittal: As a past telecom secretary, the anti-corruption crusader has written articles in favour of limited mobility. Won't budge unless he smells a scam.

Political WiLLers

N. Chandrababu Naidu: "The delay in the issue of basic service licences will hurt Andhra's objective to provide Internet dhabas."	Digvijay Singh: "Madhya Pradesh has lots to gain from CDMA rollout as it will reach villages in the shortest time."	Ashok Gehlot: "Rajasthan is committed to providing telecom access to all parts of the state by adopting CDMA, WiLL technology."

Political Wonts

Bal Thackeray, Shiv Sena chief: "The Government's credibility will be seriously impacted by this hasty and non-transparent decision."		Somnath Chatterjee, chairman, Parliamentary panel: "Limited mobility may be good, but not in the way Government has introduced it."	P.R. Dasmunsi, Congress MP: "Paswan is questioning the prime minister's authority, challenging the Cabinet and ignoring Parliament."

MetroScape

Wealth Of Art
April 8 saw an unabashed get together of Mumbai's Who's Who when the annual Harmony Show, well known as "Tina Ambani's baby", celebrated its sixth showing at the Nehru Centre.
more...

Looking Glass

Bangalore Hotel:
Park.hotel

Mumbai Store:
Regent Watch and Jewellery Boutique

A war of words is on at the Jammu border where India is trying to build a fence to stop infiltration, much to Pakistan's dislike, reports
INDIA TODAY's Special Correspondent Ramesh Vinayak in Despatches.