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INTERVIEW 'I do not want to be a hijra' 'I intend to clean up the system. We are determined to fight corruption in Indian society and we will take whatever measures that may be necessary to do our job.' Central Vigilance Commissioner N Vittal in an exclusive interview to rediff.com NEWS Flying coffins continue to take a heavy toll Among those killed in the MiG-21crashes are pilots who precision-bombed tiny bunkers atop the Kargil heights during Operation Vijay. SPECIAL Bihar varsities exist in a time wrap Thanks mainly to the populist measures adopted by successive governments, the higher education system in the state is on the verge of collapse. SPECIAL Two teenagers and the 17th Karma Pa According to the Tibetan Buddhist belief, after the demise of a lama or Karma Pa, his soul takes rebirth and it is for the priests to recognise the successor. SPECIAL Bankers wanted Kola Mohan's money, he was eyeing theirs The bankers, understandably, are reluctant to talk about Kola Mohan. They are unwilling to answer questions like how they lent money to him without trying to verify his claims of having won the Euro Lottery. BUSINESS Blitz for a brew The world's tastiest tea is making a comeback. BUSINESS Indian Rayon buys Madura Garments for Rs 1.89 billion "The acquisition will enhance value for our shareholders. The apparels business had been identified as a business that we wanted to have a leadership position in," A V Birla Group chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla said. MILLENNIUM SPECIAL The services require to modernise their mindset 'Let us not waste our hard-earned money on silly projects like the LCA to satisfy a few scientists' egos. It would be better to concentrate on a few achievable goals and produce world-beating equipment.' Admiral J G Nadkarni on Indian defence in the 21st century. SPORTS INTERVIEW 'I bowled badly in the World Cup' Fast bowler Javagal Srinath, in an extensive interview with Faisal Shariff. MONEY Funds for the long-distance runner Investors can hope to get significantly higher yield from their investments in closed-end funds if they hang on till the end, says Dhirendra Kumar. MONEY 'Do I need an income-tax clearance certificate if I go abroad for a two-year contract?' Answers to this and more NRI queries. MOVIES Thanda response to Dahek Is this the end of the road for Akshaye Khanna? Plus the top 10 films of this week. MOVIES Who stole Madhuri's heart? Glimpses of the Nene reception. BOOKS 'I didn't become an overnight sensation' Bujjai, one of modern India's most popular illustrators, has a life story that is as inspiring and exciting as any of the tales he has illustrated. COLUMNISTS Babri Masjid case: Vajpayee's lonely escapism 'If Vajpayee had even a bit of the grit of Indira Gandhi, the manipulator, and Mahatma Gandhi, the apostle of morality, he would have seized the Opposition's demand for ministerial resignations with both hands,' says Arvind Lavakare. The stuff CBI is made of 'The probe into the Abhishek Verma affair shows that the country's premier investigating agency has finally acquired a backbone.' Capital Buzz. Gossip from the Delhi Durbar. The writing on the wall... Prem Panicker, on l'affaire Nayan Mongia.

Headlines • Sri Lankan presidential    poll passes off peacefully • Mulayam & Co disrupt LS    over women's reservation  News • Proposed bill more draconian    than TADA, says PUDR • UP govt cracks down on    landsharks, conniving officials • Offer of safe passage    for ULFA men begins • More  Business • UCO Bank to recast itself,    become lean and mean • CMIE study rates Reliance    India's top millennium corp • US likely to prune    entities list further • More  Money • Trading strategy for the week    ending December 26 • More  Sports • Aussies include Brett Lee    in 12 for second Test • North survive West storm,    claim Duleep Trophy • Aussie invitation to    Indian hockey team • Rivaldo voted European    Footballer of the Year • Christmas cheer for    beaten Aston Villa • More  Check them out! • Wish the stars • Millennium travel destinations • V Anand on his 10    greatest chess players • N Chandrababu Naidu    on why we need to    change our mindset • 10 Leaders whom Vajpayee    admires the most • 'Tiger' Pataudi on his    favourite Indian cricketers • Adoor Gopalakrishnan's    10 favourite films • Shashi Tharoor on 7    dangerous trends • K N Raj on economic    breakthroughs • Cricket Interview/    Andrew Kokinos • An interview with    O V Vijayan • Sweet successes are    made of these • A convenience called    cyberbanking • Indelible Imprints reviewed • Lele unplugged • The all-religion meeting    In Real Video • The Pope's Mass    In Real Video • The Chartbusters • The Ministerial List • The Kargil crisis  The Columnists • Varsha Bhosle on the    Sikhs as a minority • Harsha Bhogle on    batting and bawling • Krishna Prasad on 15    steps to nirvana • Earlier Columns

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