Hit by the raging Bhopal gas tragedy controversy, the government on Friday began exploring options, including a special compensation package worth Rs 982 crores, for the victims. The compensation package worked out by the Planning Commission is part of comprehensive demands placed before the Centre by successive state governments.

The Samajwadi Party has stated that expelled party leader Amar Singh’s new political outfit, Lok Manch, will just add to a long list of insignificant parties in UP. The party has also made light of the claim of Mr Amar Singh that he had played an instrumental role in the humiliating defeat of the SP candidate in the Dumariyaganj Assembly byelections.

The BJP on Friday suspended three party MLAs for cross-voting in the just-concluded Rajya Sabha polls. MLAs Banwari Ram from Bihar, Bhimsen Chaudhary from Orissa and Ram Chandra from Jharkhand were suspended for not voting in favour of the BJP candidate or abstaining in the biennial polls on Thursday.

The damp squib for the BJP on the hoardings issue has forced the party to consider bringing in a formal no-confidence proposal against the municipal commissioner in the MCD House.

Commercial establishments running from within the premises of the Delhi Metro stations will be allowed to continue with their business but will have to pay the property tax and also secure trade licence from the MCD. Earlier, the commercial establishments have been claiming that they were not required to get any approval from the urban local body (ULB) or pay them taxes.

The Delhi government’s urban development department on Friday came out with revised instructions for rational and scientific utilisation of MLALAD funds. “The new instructions will facilitate early execution of works by the agencies,” stated urban development and finance minister Dr A.K. Walia.

The Delhi high court on Friday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL), which sought to ban marriages within the same “gotra” (clan), and asked the petitioner which Hindu scriptures forbade the practice.

Travelling in autorickshaws will soon become an expensive affair in Delhi. According to the Delhi government transport department’s proposal, which is likely to be tabled in the Cabinet meeting on Monday, passengers will end up paying for at least two kilometres of journey even if they take an auto for a kilometre or so.

The Indian women’s hockey team squandered a one goal lead to play out a 1-1 draw against Canada in their second game of the four-match test series at the Tamanawis Park in Surrey on Friday.

Top seed Achanta Sharath Kamal entered the second round of the Indian Open ITTF Pro Tour with a comfortable win over Ji Min Han of Korea at the Yamuna Sports Complex here on Friday, reports our correspondent.