HEAD LINE:

• India's first nuke sub soon: Antony (IE)

LEAD:

Pakistan continued to send out confusing signals on its response to the Indian dossier on the Mumbai Terror attacks after Pakistani TV channels, quoting sources, reported today that authorities had filed a case in Karachi against Ajmal Amir Kasab, the terrorist captured alive in Mumbai, and 12 others. But the Pakistan Govt later said no case had been registered though the idea was "under consideration". Information Minister Sherry Rehman told The Indian Express: "As of now, no case has been registered against Kasab but it can happen in future. The idea is under consideration." Reached for comments, Karachi city police chief Waseem Ahmed said: "It is a rumour." Pakistani TV channels quoted unidentified sources as saying that the case was registered on the basis of the probe conducted by the Federal Investigation Agency and a decision taken by the Defence Committee of the Cabinet during its meeting in Islamabad on Monday. (IE)

• Kabul: In an assault reminiscent of the 26/11 attack on Mumbai, Taliban militants unleashed a wave of terror in Kabul, storming govt buildings and leaving 20 people dead. The deadly attack came a day before special US envoy Richard Holbrooke's visit to the country. Separate groups attempted to storm three govt buildings at around 10am. All had assault rifles and wore suicide bomb vests. Their aim appeared to be to shoot dead as many people as possible before blowing themselves up. One attacker tried to enter the education ministry, but was shot dead, interior minister Hanif Atmar told a news conference. Minutes later, five militants entered the justice ministry after killing two guards. A policeman followed them and killed one while the other four fanned out shooting at everyone in sight. (TOI)
• Bangalore: India is likely to have its first indigenous nuclear submarine up and running shortly. Defence Minister A K Antony on Wednesday said the project was in its final stages and the launch would be announced once it is ready. Commenting on the secretive Advance Technology Vehicle (ATV) project India's efforts to develop a nuclear powered submarine to complete its 'triad' or its ability to deliver nuclear weapons from the air, ground and sea the minister said though there had been some bottlenecks in the project, things were improving now. "Things are in the final stage. Some time ago, there were bottlenecks in terms of supply of parts. It is over now. We will announce it (the launch) whenever it gets ready," the Defence Minister said, after inauguration of the Aero India military air show here. (IE)
• Even as SP general secretary Amar Singh, in an apparent bid to put pressure on the Congress, said in Mumbai on Wednesday that he would meet NCP president Sharad Pawar for seat-sharing talks on Thursday, Congress sources in New Delhi said negotiations with the SP could resume with party general secretary in-charge of UP Digvijay Singh slated to meet the SP general secretary in the national Capital on Thursday. Though chances of an agreement between the parties appeared bleak, with the Congress giving the green signal to its candidates in about 30 constituencies (about a dozen more seats than the SP is willing to concede), SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav too is expected to be in the Capital in this connection. (IE)
• New Delhi: While West Bengal Congress chief Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday gave clearance to the state leadership for talks with the Trinamool Congress for an alliance in the Lok Sabha election, the seat-sharing arrangement is set to be a tricky affair with the Congress having prepared a list of 16 out of 42 LS seats in the state on which it intends to lay claim, it was reliably learnt. It was after Mukherjee's meeting with WBPCC working president Pradip Bhattacharya and senior party leader Manas Bhuyian at the External Affairs Minister's office on Tuesday that the Congress pulled out its candidate from the Bishnupur (West) Assembly bypoll. "It is the desire of the people of Bengal that the Congress and the Trinamool Congress contest the election together. Accordingly, we have withdrawn our candidate from the Assembly bypoll. It is up to the Trinamool Congress now to reciprocate," Pradip Bhattacharya said on phone. (IE)
• NEW DELHI/AHMEDABAD: Home Minister P Chidambaram and Gujarat CM Narendra Modi on Wednesday fired salvos at each other over the latter's remarks concerning "local links" in the 26/11 Mumbai Terror attacks. Asked about similarities between Modi's remarks and Pakistan's allegation that "internal elements" were involved in the attacks, Chidambaram said in New Delhi: "You should ask Narendra Modi whether he and Pakistan are in contact with each other." At the national executive meeting of the BJP in Nagpur, Modi had reportedly said that the Mumbai attackers had received "local support". Later, on Tuesday, however, Modi pointed out that he had been quoted out of context: "I meant to say that if Pakistan executed such a massive operation then it would not have been possible without a local recce. There must have been some networking. The Indian Govt should also probe that angle." (IE)

CONGRESS

Turning the heat on Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami, who had recently recommended the removal of Election Commissioner Navin Chawla, the Congress on Wednesday accused the CEC of being "magnanimous" towards the BJP. AICC spokesperson Manish Tewari cited the poll panel's "inaction" on complaints about the BJP's controversial CD on Babri Masjid and the Godhra train fire, released before the UP Assembly election in 2007, and over the death of many women in a stampede at a function to distribute free sarees on the occasion of BJP leader Lalji Tandon's birthday in Lucknow in 2004. "The Congress has already rejected the BJP's allegations about Election Commissioner Navin Chawla's bias in favour of the Congress. Today, we will cite some examples of how the Chief Election Commissioner has been magnanimous towards the BJP," Tewari said. Giving the sequence of events following the Election Commission's suo motu cognizance of the distribution of the controversial CD, the AICC spokesperson said that in November 2007 the EC had written to the Chief Electoral Officer of Uttar Pradesh seeking information about the progress in this case. The CEO wrote back to the CEC recommending that chargesheet should be filed against BJP leaders including Rajnath Singh and Lalji Tandon, among others, said Tewari. Accordingly, the EC should have met to decide action against the BJP, "including freezing of its election symbol", he said. "But this file went to the CEC and he closed the chapter," said Tewari, adding that even in the saree case the CEC had taken no action. "It is clear who in the EC is helping which party. We will request the EC to review this (cases) again," the Congress spokesperson said. (IE)

STATES

ANDHRA PRADESH

A week after Congress legislator from Malleswaram Buragadda Vedavyas joined the Praja Rajyam Party, party leaders from the constituency in Krishna district called on Chief Minister Y. S.Rajasekhara Reddy on Wednesday. Leaders from Malleswaram, which will become Pedana constituency following the delimitation exercise, re-assured the CM that mere resignation of an MLA would not mar the chances of the ruling party in the general elections. Led by Animal Husbandry Minister Mandali Budha Prasad and Rural Water Supply Minister Pinnamaneni Venkateswara Rao, the constituency leaders said that the party was intact. "We will ensure that the Congress party retains the seats in the next elections," the leaders told Dr. Reddy. (HINDU)

J&K

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti today stressed on the need to curtail the role of security forces and strengthen the civil administration in view of improved scenario in the state. Addressing the media after being elected as PDP legislature party leader, Mehbooba said, "We need to trust people. The way people turned out to vote in large numbers despite a difficult situation and emotive issues, it would be a befitting tribute to them if the govt reduces the strength of the security forces and withdraws the AFSPA." She credited the previous PDP-led govt for restoring the sense of security in the state. "The new govt is fortunate enough to have a peaceful atmosphere in the state as the militancy is at its fag end," she said. Asked as to how the PDP would coordinate with the BJP while in the Opposition, Mehbooba said the BJP had its own agenda and it had every right to work on it. (TRIB)

MADHYA PRADESH

The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet on Tuesday corrected a decade-old injustice by endorsing CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan's decision to discontinue the mandatory practice of allowing only those who had passed their higher secondary and graduate examinations from the state to be recruited for posts falling under the jurisdiction of the Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission. The measure was formalised at a cabinet meeting chaired by the CM. Reversed in the process was a decision taken by the Digvijay Singh regime in 1996 which made it compulsory for those appearing in the Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission competitive examination to have obtained their school leaving and graduation degree from academic institutions in MP. Surprisingly, though a stay was obtained from the Jabalpur high court in 1998, the original Cabinet decision remained unaffected. On the contrary, the same provision was also extended to posts not falling under the MPPSC's jurisdiction. An formal order passed by the state general administration department on March 1998 had affirmed the decision.(AA)

RAJASTHAN

The ruling Congress Party is gearing up for the coming parliamentary elections while the Opposition BJP has reposed faith in senior leaders to mobilise the party's rank and file to woo voters. CM Ashok Gehlot took six districts by storm to galvanise party workers in the last two days. Mr Gehlot visited Tonk district and said his govt was committed to undertake developmental work. Addressing the panchayati raj conference, Mr Gehlot criticised the previous BJP govt for not carrying out developmental work even though the UPA govt had funded its major schemes. He emphasised on better implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) and said his govt will ensure that the scheme reaches needy people. "During the NDA govt days, the state did not get its proper share but the UPA govt had pumped over Rs 40,000 crores to Rajasthan. It helped in creating infrastructure and employment," he said.(AA)

TAMIL NADU

Tamil Nadu chief minister M. Karunanidhi is recovering well after a four-hour invasive surgery on his spinal cord on Wednesday, an official statement said here. PM Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi were informed about Mr Karunanidhi's health by his daughter and Rajya Sabha member Kanimozhi and former Union minister Dayanidhi Maran over phone. The CM is receiving further medical attention in the intensive care unit of Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Hospital here, the statement added. State finance minister and ruling Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam general secretary K. Anbazhagan thanked the team of 14 doctors led by Dr A. Jaiswal and Dr S.S.K. Marthandam for their efforts. Mr Anbazhagan also requested party workers to desist from calling on the 84-year-old patriarch till his complete recovery that may take about a week. "The CM will return to official duties shortly (after his recovery)," Mr Anbazhagan added. (AA)

UTTAR PRADESH

Claiming the Supreme Court's remarks on CBI's handling of the assets case against Mulayam Singh Yadav reflected the agency's loss of credibility, the BJP on Wednesday asked political parties to build a consensus on amending laws related to its constitution and working. "The credibility of the CBI has suffered a serious setback with the Supreme Court's comment and has revealed its real character," former Union Minister Manohar Joshi told reporters here. The Supreme Court had rapped the CBI for its handling of the disproportionate assets case against SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Tuesday saying the agency was "acting at the behest" of the Central govt. "It proves that CBI has become an agency of the Union Govt. It is working on the behest of the Central Govt, which is using it for its political ends," the BJP leader alleged. All the political parties must get together "to build consensus to amend the law dealing with the constitution and working of CBI so that its functioning could be made independent," Mr. Joshi said, adding immediate action was needed in the interest of the people's faith and the security of the democratic setup .(IE)

EDITORIAL

Need to counter new US policy: After the November 26 Mumbai attack by Pakistan-based Pakistani terrorists (it is necessary to spell this out in view of Islamabad's two-faced talk on the issue), New Delhi's relations with Islamabad have come under considerable strain. The best that can be said for it is that it is no more than just correct. This could change in a further negative direction if this country does not gain satisfaction from Pakistan's response in the Mumbai matter. Much can shape what Pakistan does, including the steps that India takes. But without doubt, the future steps that the US envisages in the context of Af-Pak (the recent Washington coinage to denote the significance of Afghanistan and Pakistan in dealing with the larger Al Qaeda issue), as well as its equations with Pakistan per se, are likely to guide Pakistan's actions in respect of India. Washington is gearing up for a "strategic review" of its policy in the Af-Pak context. To this end it has dispatched Richard Holbrooke, the newly appointed special envoy for the region, to take soundings in Islamabad and Kabul. These are likely to provide key inputs for the new US policy. But even before Mr Holbrooke reports back to Washington what he has seen and heard, the signals coming out of Washington must make New Delhi think hard.(AA)