The Indian Express The Financial Express Latest News Elections '98 Express Investment Week Market Indicators Screen Express Computers Travel & Tourism Advertisers Forum Information Technology Drumbeat: Ad Buzzaar Astrosurf Eco-India Career India Business Forum Match Maker Express Properties

Politics Business Expressions General Sports Leisure States 15 February 1998   Sonia's sound and fury hides vital facts in Bofors payoff case The two main campaigners in the election campaign -- Sonia Gandhi and Atal Behari Vajpayee -- have been trading charges over Bofors creating confusion in the minds of the public as to what is the correct version.   Raja Bhaiya, live and unplugged! The man is back. A group of 100 motorcyclists near Kunda town in Pratapgarh constituency welcomed UP Cabinet Minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya with slogans of "Hui nahin abhi koi der, aa gaya hai Kunda ka sher." (It's not too late. Kunda's tiger has arrived). Gujral gives Minister a strong dose, okays reduction in drug prices Prime Minister IK Gujral has got the Union Cabinet to back him in taking his colleague M Arunachalam to task and in the process has virtually accused him of pandering to the interests of certain pharmaceutical companies. The Cabinet had ruled against Arunachalam's decision last month to prevent a reduction in the administered prices of key pharmaceutical products after the intervention. Violence mars first phase of campaign The shadow of violence loomed menacingly as campaigning ended this evening for the first phase of the Congress-BJP face-off. Security forces in Assam, Tripura, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh were put on alert for Monday's polling as the election toll crossed 40 following today's bomb blasts at Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu.   I have never lied in 48 years: Vajpayee Senior BJP leader Atal Behari Vajpayee strongly refuted Sonia Gandhi's charge that he had lied to the nation on the Bofors issue. He however expressed the opinion that the Bofors papers should be made public. He also felt that Sonia should opt for a public debate on the Bofors payoff instead of indulging in "hit-and-run" tactics. Sonia back in State with old wares Her credentials as a daughter of India, a tribute to Shivaji Maharaj and brickbats for the Shiv Sena-BJP government. Sonia Gandhi brought an emotion-packed, but well-crafted, package for the second phase of her whirlwind election tour to Maharashtra yesterday. She was accompanied by her son Rahul Gandhi.     BJP lodges complaint against Kamat   Cong-RPI sure of sweeping Mumbai polls   Inside track   Several activists have quit Sanghatana, admits Joshi   Sompal strives to break a Baghpat tradition