TOP STORIES

CAS Ordinance may be Centre’s escape route
New Delhi, January 4
The Centre is considering promulgating an Ordinance scrapping the conditional access system (CAS) “in its present form” that would appease consumers and also not invite an adverse comment from the judiciary.

Sheila rewards Sikhs with heritage centre 
New Delhi, January 4
The Delhi Chief Minister, Mrs. Sheila Dikshit, has rewarded the Capital’s Sikhs with a string of privileges, including the setting up of a heritage centre, for what she called their overwhelming support in the December Assembly elections.

Tenth Guru’s birth anniversary observed
New Delhi, January 4
Celebrations marked the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh on Sunday. Shri Sukhmani Sahib and Nitnem were recited at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib followed by Asa-Di-Var with Shabad Kirtan by Hazoori Ragi Bhai Avtar Singh Gurcharan Singh.

Panj Piaras leading the procession on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh in the Capital on Sunday. — Photo by Kamal Singh

Three generations dedicated to dance and a surprise guest

New Delhi, January 4 It was an evening of emotions, movements, expressions, appreciation and dance at the Alfa Laval Corporate get-together, which was held the Kamal Mahal Hall of Hotel Maurya Sheraton yesterday. President Abdul Kalam with the three generations of the legendary Sarabhai family.

Scribe’s husband claims Rs 1.5 cr in damages 
New Delhi, January 4
The husband of deceased Amar Ujala journalist, Mrs. Kanchana, who died here after a road accident in September last, has filed a Rs 1.5 crore compensation claim in a city court against the driver and owner of a car that allegedly caused the mishap.

Max temp still six degrees below normal
New Delhi, January 4
Delhiites today received no respite from severe cold wave conditions as the minimum temperature plummeted by 1.2 degrees to 5.0 degree Celsius with cold winds contributing to the chill. The sun came out by forenoon, but its effect was curtailed by the chilly winds.

Short shrift
LG presides over transport dept meeting, minister not invited 
New Delhi, January 4
A number of decisions pertaining to the Department of Transport were taken on Sunday at a “high-level review meeting” of officials drawn from the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC). Only the minister concerned was not present. Lieutenant Governor Vijai Kapoor chaired the meeting.

COMMUNITY

Special Focus on SONEPAT
Fair price shop owners’ unfair practices
Sonepat, January 4
Non-supply of rationed commodities particularly, levy sugar, kerosene, wheat and flour to a large number of families living below the poverty line (BPL) by certain depot holders has caused widespread resentment among the holders of yellow, pink and other categories of ration cards in this city and elsewhere in the district.

Louis Braille’s birth anniversary celebrated
New Delhi, January 4
The All India Confederation of the Blind today celebrated 195 birth anniversary of Louis Braille, the inventor of the uncontested system of reading and writing for the blind. The function was attended by more than 500 people.

Sarpanch arrested for misappropriating wheat
Sonepat, January 4
The sarpanch of Larsauli village, Mr Lehna Singh, was arrested by the Murthal police near Bhigan village, about 10 km from here last evening for misappropriating wheat meant for ‘Food for Work Programme’.

delhi digest 
Food and hospitality exhibition from Jan 7
New Delhi, January 4
The International Food, Drink & Hospitality Exhibition (IFDE India 2004) will be held from January 7 to 9 at Pragati Maidan here. Hindustan Lever Limited, L T Overseas, Cadbury, Kellogg, Rasna, Venkys Food, M D H, Dhampur Sugar Mills (Mawana),Nathu’s and Bikanerwala, etc are just a few names to reckon with. 

sonepat briefs 
Good response to anti-polio campaign
Sonepat, January 4
A large number of children up to 5 years were administered anti-polio drops by the employees of the Health Department and the volunteers of various social and voluntary organisations at different booths created specially for the purpose in this city and other parts of the district.

CRIME

Dacoity at petrol pump foiled 
New Delhi, January 4
With the arrest of five suspects, the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police today claimed to have foiled a dacoity at a petrol pump in North-East district. The suspects were arrested from near Bhairon Temple in Kalkaji.

BUSINESS

SHOWCASE
This chemical-free traditional sweetener also has medicinal value 
Dhampur Sugar Mills has introduced branded pure, natural and chemical-free Gur in the market. Made from fully mature and select varieties of sugarcane, Dhampure Gur is packed through an automatic pack and seal plant at the site of manufacture without any manual handling. Hence, it is cleaner and healthier with its original taste, flavour, colour and purity.

EDUCATION

Govt firm on private schools’ closure: HVP
Sonepat, January 4
The general secretary of the Haryana Vikas Party (HVP), Mr Rajiv Jain, criticised the state government for formulating strict rules and regulations in granting recognition to the privately managed schools in the state and alleged that it was bent upon closing down the private schools.

Disabled students given tricycles, artificial limbs 

New Delhi, January 4 As many as 380 students, including handicapped were presented study material at a function organised today at Pearey Lal Bhawan by Tarun Mitra Parishad. Inaugurating the function Dr Sahib Singh Verma, Union Labour Minister appreciated the effort being made by the Parishad for the uplift of the handicapped and needy students since 1975. He said that he has been witnessing the great contribution of the Parishad for the last 11 years, and every year the working and contribution of the Parishad has increased. Dr Sahib Singh Verma, Union Labour Minister presenting artificial limbs to a student at a function, organised by Tarun Mitra Parishad in the Capital on Sunday.

SCHOOL BUZZ
Vaswani school celebrates sports day with elan & panache
Sadhu Vaswani International School for Girls celebrated its annual sports day. The function began with a march past to the beats of the school band. The Chief Guest on the occasion, Ms. Sunita Godhra, Director, Health and Fitness Society, and the first woman participant in international running events, accepted the salute.

Barbee Play School children with their tiny Christmas gifts.

Union Minister for Tourism Jagmohan at a Christmas carnival.

When it pays to be slow Carnival at St. Patrick’s

Week-long squash camp Workshop for aspiring medicos

principalspeak The dawn of New Year: The hour of truth The New Year was ushered in with a bang: With grand celebrations and a resolve to ring out the old and ring in the new – all things and feelings bright and beautiful that make our world physically, intellectually and morally strong. But to truly cherish all this change, one thing must remain steady – our character, which is nurtured on strong values that are universal and eternal.

HEALTH

Delhi’s efforts exemplary in polio eradication: Sushma 

New Delhi: The Government of NCT of Delhi’s efforts to eradicate polio has come in for praise from the Union Government. Union Health Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday told media persons that not a single polio case was reported in the Capital in the last 10 months. This, Swaraj said, should be replicated in other states as well. “Delhi has come up as a model. State governments should follow the measures being taken in the Capital to eradicate the virus from the whole country,” the minister said. Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Sushma Swaraj administering pulse polio drops to a child at Lajpat Nagar in the Capital on Sunday. — Photo by Kamal Singh

SPORTS

Sonepat, Haryana Police to clash
Sonepat, January 4
The host Sonepat and Haryana Police will clash in the final of the four-day 25th Haryana State Football Championship being played here in CRA College grounds. In the semi-finals, Sonepat struggled to defeat Rohtak by 4-3 in the breaker; whereas Haryana Police convincingly humbled Bhiwani by 3-1.

Punjab and Sind Bank win to top group
New Delhi, January 4
Punjab and Sind Bank drubbed Punjab Police by two goals to nil while Air-India edged past Delhi XI 2-1 in the concluding Pool A matches of the sixth Chatrapati Shivaji All-India Hockey Tournament at the Shivaji Stadium on Sunday.

Aditya, Arpit star in Frank Anthony’s victory
New Delhi, January 4
A stroke-filled century by Aditya Saini and deadly bowling of 4 for 14 by Arpit Upadhyay helped hosts Frank Anthony School defeat South Delhi Colts by 155 runs and entered the semi-final of the fifth R G Williams Memorial Under-15 Cricket Tournament at the Frank Anthony School ground, Lajpat Nagar.

Malviya Club move into quarter-final
New Delhi, January 4
Defending champions Malviya Club drubbed Youngsters Club by 44 runs and entered the quarter-final of the Sahibzada Ajit Singh Cricket Tournament at the Guru Gobind Singh College ground. Oniel Wilson, who scored a quickfire 62, was declared the man of the match.

Sonnet topple I G Stadium