President
Pervez Musharraf's carefully chosen words
on the national television last week could change
the very face of Pakistan. If he succeeds, he will sideline
the religious right, tame the militants after
a decade of guerrilla war in Jammu and Kashmir
and propel Pakistan towards new economic opportunities. If he
slips, the country may lose
the chance to stem the tide of Islamic extremism.
But the question is: will the Pakistani General be
able to deliver? An EXCLUSIVE report on the
issue by India Today.
The interim report on a
policy for auto-fuel takes an about turn raising fears that
it would be exploited by the anti-CNG brigade. India Today's Malini Goyal takes a look. Fuel
and Fire
COVER STORY: PAKISTAN
THE NATION: BJP
Abominable Showman
His Excellency
Over the past month, watching television has in many ways
become a quiz show called What'll Pervez Do Next?
For the 'official' celebration of Vajpayee's birthday, the
BJP redefines sycophancy to include full-page greetings in
dailies.
STATES: UTTAR PRADESH
STATES: PUNJAB
Venture Ticketing
Scions of the Times
Rajnath tries to rid
the BJP of under-performers by denying tickets to more than
25 per cent of the sitting MLAs.
As children of political families from all parties grab tickets
for the state polls, discontent rises.
War
and Words Finally, India is winning leaders and influencing nations.
OTHER STORIES
PREVIOUS ISSUE
INDIA TODAY CONCLAVE
The Conclave concludes
on a high note. Al Gore, Stanley Fischer and other world leaders
listen and our heard. Catch up on the highlights. Take
me to Conclave now
INDIA TODAY HINDI
THE NEWSPAPERTODAY
STATES: KERALA Pay Check
STATES: BIHAR The Violent Eye
Antony's cost-cutting measures don't find favour
among the state's politically active employees.
A period of relative
calm in Bodhgaya comes to an end as Maoist guerrillas return
to strike terror.
DIPLOMACY: STRATEGIC
TIES
George Washington
BUSINESS: AUTOMOBILES
On a Zip Drive
George Fernandes' US
visit gives a new thrust to the Indo-American strategic relationship.
Braving a recession and despite over 200 models of cars and
two-wheelers, new auto beauties lure the consumers.
.
SPORTS: CRICKET
Young, Promising, Undone
OFFTRACK: BANGALORE,
KARNATAKA Aqua Confidence
As the India under-19 begins its defence of the World Cup
title plenty remains rotten in the state of the junior game
in the country.
Physically disadvantaged children in Bangalore find freedom
in a city
swimming pool.
SOCIETY AND TRENDS: KABABS Sizzling Haute
CINEMA:
INDIAN-AMERICAN TALENT It Happened One Year
In the Great Kabab Revolution,
forgotten delicacies become capital appetisers.
Inspired by the success of Bollywood, many Indians have created
niches in the American world of movies.
COLUMNS
FIFTH COLUMN: TAVLEEN SINGH
Idiom of Distrust
KAUTILYA: JAIRAM RAMESH The Dragon and the Cow
In Musharrafspeak, there is one set of rules for the world
and another for India.
Zhu Rongji's visit draws attention to the India-China issue
again.
NEWSNOTES
CENTRESTAGE By Ajit Ninan
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"If
the two Germanies can come together, history will find some
way some day of rejoining India and Pakistan of their own free
choice."