The mobile phone of Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi was stolen from the New Delhi IGI airport a few days ago but was recovered later allegedly from the possession of a baggage-loader who admitted that he had stolen it from Mr Gandhi’s baggage, sources said on Monday.

As the CPI(M) is preparing to battle a strong Opposition during the 2011 Assembly elections in West Bengal, the party is also reviewing the political line adopted by it at the national level.

In a bid to turn the table on the BJP over recent petroleum price hike, the Congress on Monday said it was the NDA government led by Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, which first dismantled the administrative price mechanism (APM) for the products. The party has then questioned as to why the saffron party is now criticising the present government’s move to deregulate prices of petrol and diesel.

The Congress is not worried over three major issues — fuel price hike, release of former UCC chief Warren Anderson and caste-based census — viewing that it will not polarise the Opposition inside and outside Parliament. “These issues can sustain till the Bihar Assembly elections, which are expected in October-November this year,” viewed a CWC member.

The BJP on Monday asserted that its alliance with JD(U) in Bihar was intact and both parties would follow the same seat sharing formula as they had in 2005 Assembly polls. But sources close to the BJP party chief, Mr Nitin Gadkari, said the party was earlier planning to ask for two more seats this time, including Muzaffarpur, from its alliance partner.

The hope that monsoon would keep its date with Delhi, as the capital had begun getting pre-monsoon showers a few days ago, has receded and the moisture-laden winds are likely to cover the city only in the first week of July. The usual date of onset of monsoon in Delhi is June 29.

A 22-year-old youth was shot dead and four others injured in a dispute over water in northeast Delhi on Sunday evening. The incident was reported from Karawal Nagar at around 11 pm on Sunday. The deceased has been identified as Bhagat Singh. “Four days back, the supply to a common tap was cut as it was illegal. Two groups led by Vijender Chaudhary and Vijender Sharma started blaming each other,” a source said.

With just ninety-six days remaining for the kickstart to Commonwealth Games, the Delhi police has put in place a plan for the security during the mega sports event. While, there will be tight security at the Major Dhyan Chand and Talkatora stadiums, sources have confirmed that even areas near Delhi University (DU) campus and the Jamia Millia Islamia will have high security arrangements.

No final decision will be taken on Lalit Modi’s case in next week’s BCCI Special General Body Meeting, which will only decide whether to refer the suspended IPL Commissioner’s fate to the Disciplinary Committee, Board secretary N. Srinivasan said.

Indian ace Dipika Pallikal is on course for her maiden World Junior Squash Championship title as she stormed into the semifinals after defeating Kanzy El Dafrawy of Egypt in Cologne, Germany.