New Delhi, March 18 : As the United States is giving final touch to its strategic review paper on the Afghanistan-Pakistan region, which Washington terms as Af-Pak policy, New Delhi is keeping a close watch.

According to Ministry of External Affairs sources, the U. S. which has huge military presence in the region, is looking for reconciliation with the Taliban forces in Afghanistan under its new Af-Pak policy.

New Delhi, Mar. 18 : The Election Commission on Wednesday slapped fresh notices on both Varun Gandhi and the Bharatiya Janata Party seeking their response by Friday to what it termed were clear violations of the Model Code of Conduct.

Gandhi has been charged with issuing anti-communal statements during a rally in his Pilibhit constituency, and the Election Commission has even ordered a video tracking of his entire campaign.

New Delhi, Mar. 18 : ''Stop Protectionism'' will be the India''s advice to the developed world during next month''s G-20 Summit in London.

According to sources in the government, India is likely to pitch against the protectionist policies adopted by Europe in general and US in particular in the wake of the economic crisis.

India has been highly critical of the US Congress''s latest move in curbing the issue of H1B visas, which is likely to affect the job prospects of thousands of Indian professionals.

New Delhi, Mar 18 : Declaring her absolute support to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the coming elections, Bharatiya Janashakti Party leader Uma Bharti on Wednesday said she would campaign for the BJP''s prime ministerial candidate, L K Advani, in the interest of the country.

Addressing a press conference here, Bharti said it would be her good fortune if she could help Advani achieve even a single vote.

New Delhi, Mar. 18 : Expressing his gratitude towards the BJP for giving him the Patna Sahib seat, actor turned politician Shatrughan Sinha said his party had maintained his "honour and dignity".

Sinha described Bihar as both his "weakness and strength" and added that he was grateful to the BJP leadership for fulfilling his wish to fight from Patna Sahib.

"Patna Sahib was my first choice, second choice and the last choice as I remained Rajya Sabha MP two times from this very seat," Sinha told reporters in New Delhi.

New Delhi, Mar 17 : United Progressive Alliance (UPA) allies Congress and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) arrived at a seat-sharing formula for 14 seats in Jharkhand on Wednesday, leaving only two seats for the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

The two parties met in New Delhi and came to a conclusion that the Congress and JMM would contest from seven and five constituencies respectively.