tea would be declared the national drink by April 17th next year to coincide with the 2012 birth anniversary of the first indigenous Assamese tea planter - Mani Ram Diwan

NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES

Maoist rebels abducting the collector of Sukma district - Alex Paul Menon yesterday while he was in the middle of a meeting with villagers is reported extensively in the Press. Hindustan Times writes, the 32 year old IAS officer was at a 'Gram Suraj campaign- part of the state government to wean away locals from Naxalism. 

The Mail Today, the Tribune and the Pioneer report that Mamta Banerjee the Chief Minister of West Bengal has given the Centre a 15-day ultimatum to decide on her demand for a three-year moratorium on the interest for central loans, calling it a legacy she inherited from the Left Front Government.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Civil Services Day in Delhi, the Prime Minister urged Civil servants to take bold decisions, assuring them that the government would not indulge in with hunting in the name of fighting corruption, reports the Indian Express and the Business Line.

At a Washington based think tank, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said, India is committed to economic reforms and has initiated changes on a number of issues that would benefit the economy, writes the Economic Times. 

On Indo-Pak ties, the Sunday Times writes - 'of late hope has replaced doubt with the two Countries agreeing to set up the India-Pakistan Business Council easing visa rules, peaceful gestures by the Pakistan army and moving closer to granting India the Most Favoured Nation status.

AND FINALLY, The Hindu writes that Planing Commission Deputy Chairmen Montek Singh Aluwalia has said that tea would be declared the national drink by April 17th next year to coincide with the 2012 birth anniversary of the first indigenous Assamese tea planter - Mani Ram Diwan.