The Luckies
The Labelled, Urban, Chilled, Kicked-with-life Indians are here. The most fortunate ever if only for the choices before it, this generation is glib, global, cocky and informed-and chases success with an awesome spending power.

Wages Of Peace
The Centre's decision to extend its cease-fire with the NSCN(I-M)
to three other north-east states leads to large-scale violence
in Manipur.

Man Of Letters
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's skill with the quill has the PMO busy acknowledging his missives. And on occasion agreeing to his demands.

Civil Lines
Pervez Musharraf's assuming the office of President is being seen as a bid to legitimise his position. A look at what this means in the context of his India visit.

Peace In Pipeline
India wants to put on Iran the onus of ensuring safe transit of gas.

NEWSNOTES

Former Tamil Nadu chief minister M. KARUNANIDHI appears unfazed by the charges hurled at him by J. Jayalalitha.

Q. Did you ever expect these kind of charges?
A. These are fragments of her imagination. During the DMK regime, our cases against Jayalalitha were substantiated. Now, there is no proof.

Q. Why are you skipping the Assembly these days?
A. Even when I was chief minister, I was unwell. I could not stand for more than two minutes. Then, I had the privilege of sitting and participating in the session. That is not possible now.

Q. The BJP and the DMK differed on the issue of recalling the governor.
A. Home Minister L.K. Advani felt that since the issue of Jayalalitha's assumption of power is in court, it's not proper to recall the governor at this stage.

Q. The general impression is that Jayalalitha is paying you back because your government had jailed her.
A. The special courts weren't set up to target anyone. That's clear from the fact that different courts have given different verdicts.

Q. Jayalalitha is upping the pressure. Are your party cadres demoralised? And do you foresee defections?
A. Absolutely not. They cannot demoralise or threaten us. After all, I have been to jail 20 times.

MetroScape

Delhi Decorative Art: D'addomio

Kolkata Restaurant: Thai Tonight

A Hare Krishna cult member's spiritual quest meets with a rude end. But he isn't the only one on trial. The credibility of the Orissa police is equally at stake, writes INDIA TODAY's Special Correspondent Ruben Banerjee in
Sleaze And Salvation