TOP STORIES

Sahib quits as blame game starts 
New Delhi, March 28
Even though the central leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party is yet to recover from the shock of the massive defeat in the Delhi Municipal Corporation elections, the fissures in the BJP unit widened further with the Outer Delhi MP and former Delhi Chief Minister, Mr Sahib Singh Verma, resigning from the post of national vice president today.

Delhi economy on the upswing
New Delhi, March 28
The Delhi Legislative Assembly on Thursday passed the vote on account for a period of two months (April 1 to May 30) to the tune of Rs 1364.6 crore. Besides passing the vote on account unanimously, the House also approved the supplementary grants of Rs 2210.92 crore for the current financial year.

THE ACHIEVERS
Visually challenged doctor with a Midas touch
Visual disparity cannot impede his determination; financial constraints cannot hinder his social services either. He is Dr R. K. Jaiswal, first blind doctor of acupuncture in India. He practises at Room No 28, WUS Health Center, Chhatra Marg, University of Delhi.

Gurgaon
Paying the price for moving in an industrial corridor
Gurgaon, March 28
The local cell of the National Highway Authority has turned down the demand of the industrialists here for reduction in toll tax on the Delhi-Jaipur highway. The bone of contention is a post set up by the National Highway Authority at Bilaspur, midway between Gurgaon and Manesar, for collection of the tax. 

Spurious drugs in Capital coming from Murthal
New Delhi, March 28
The ‘flourishing’ industry of spurious drugs in Haryana is proving to be Delhi’s bane. Government of NCT of Delhi’s Health Minister AK Walia told the Legislative Assembly that Murthal in Haryana was one of the ‘hubs’ of this thriving business.

COMMUNITY

No new taxes in NDMC budget
New Delhi, March 28
The New Delhi Municipal council (NDMC) budget estimate for 2002-03 provides for Rs 861 crore against a receipt of Rs 862 crore even as the council failed to realise last fiscal’s target of Rs 831 crore. Besides proposals to provide modern civic amenities, this year’s budget has not recommended any increase in taxes.

Work on three rail links in NCR to start soon
New Delhi, March 28
In a move to provide better transportation facilities within the National Capital Region, work on three rail projects, which would be linked to the ongoing Metro rail project in the Capital, would begin in the coming months.

Fix wheat support price at Rs 760  a quintal: Hooda
Rohtak, March 28
The Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee chief, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, has demanded that the minimum support price (MSP) for wheat must be fixed at Rs 760 per quintal at least.

Haryana staff union up in arms against sackings
Rohtak, March 28
The Haryana Karamchari Mahasangh has announced that the state government employees will not celebrate Holi this year in protest against the anti- employee policies of the government.

Sonepat beautification steps win golden opinions 
Sonepat, February, 28
The senior citizens of Sector 14, a residential colony of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda), today lauded the efforts made by the Deputy Commissioner to give a face-lift to the city.

The colour fest brings all communities together 
Rewari, March 28
The representatives of the Hindu, Muslim, Christian and Sikh communities organised a “Sadbhavana Milan Samaroh” (Amity Meet) on the occasion of Holi here today. At the outset, they applied ‘gulal’ on each others to herald the message of communal harmony which the colourful Holi seeks to convey to all and sundry.

Rs 1.5 crore grant to each MCF member
Faridabad, March 28
The Municipal Corporation Faridabad (MCF) has decided to give an annual grant of about Rs 1.5 crore to each of its elected corporators for carrying out development works in their respective wards. This was decided in the budget session of the corporation on Wednesday.

Wakf panel to look into imams’ problems 
Panipat, March 28
The Punjab Wakf Board has constituted a high-level five-member committee in order to supervise the religious works and solve the problems of imams in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. Giving this information here today, the president of Anjuma Oakaf, M. Zia-ul-Islam Kashmi, said the members of the committee were the education manager of Darul Ullum Devband, M. Arshad Madni, general secretary of the Muslim Personal Law Board, M. Nizamuddin, chief professor of Jamia Millia, Delhi, Akhtar Ulwase, Mufti M. Hilal Usmani from Punjab and PIR G. Hussain of Haryana. 

Rs 508 crore credit plan for Faridabad banks
Faridabad, March 28
An amount of Rs 508 crore has been earmarked to be released as loans to the beneficiaries under various schemes in the coming financial year, according to the annual district credit plan of all banks released here.

NCR BRIEFS
Bogus cement unit unearthed
Ghaziabad, March 28
The Loni police have unearthed a bogus cement factory which was selling fake cement adulterated with earth and other material. Four persons, including its ‘owner’, have been arrested and about 700 bags of fake cement along with some bags of good quality cement, earth and some gadgets for mixing cement and stitching the bags have been seized from the factory Amrit vihar. 

One dies in mishap Chemical colours

Wrong papers Dowry death

DJB promises smooth water supply in summer
New Delhi, March 28
The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) today claimed to have taken several measures, including replacement of pipes and higher budgetary allocation, to ensure smooth supply of water in the Capital during the summer months. 

CRIME

Six swindle Rs 1 crore from banks using credit cards, 
fall in police net
New Delhi, March 28
With the arrest of six persons, the Economic Offences Wing of the Delhi Police today claimed to have worked out a cheating case of over Rs 1 crore. The accused made banks, finance companies and big businessmen their targets and used credit cards to swindle money from them.

Seven of dacoit gang nabbed
New Delhi, March 28
The North district police arrested seven members of an inter-state gang involved in murders, dacoity, robberies and burglaries from the Azad Market Chowk after a brief encounter.

Undertrial throws chilly in cop’s eyes  to escape
Sonepat, March 28
Surinder, an accused in a murder case, made a futile attempt to escape from the police custody by throwing chilly powder in the eyes of a police constable, Sukhbir Singh, here today.

HUDA JE held for  taking bribe
Faridabad, March 28
A Junior Engineer (JE) of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) office here was arrested after being caught red-handed accepting a bribe of Rs 3,000 from a resident today.

BUSINESS

27 per cent increase in credit outlay of banks in Gurgaon
Gurgaon, March 28
The credit plan of all banks for the year 2002-2003 with an outlay of Rs 423.69 crore has projected an increase of 27 per cent over the current financial year. The lead District Manager for all banks, Mr S. V. Govindaiah, informed that the banks here had achieved 100 per cent targets in their credit plan for the year 2001-02 up to December 2001.

CULTURE

ART SCAPE

Marriage of film and art fascinates spectators It is not always the landscapes and the figures on canvas that attract the audience, it is also the world of glittering cine stars and persons behind camera that pull them. In fact, the expos on glitterati have often more visitors though there may not be many buyers. That’s why, of late, the paintings on the film world have started catching up with the artists, both old and new. A painting and still photography exhibition on the world of cinema created by Gayatri Sinha, a veteran artist, proves it.

Aramugam ‘Rajnikant’.

That tradition scores over pop has been proved time and again, especially when it comes to celebrating the colourful festivals of India. Be it Haryanvi ‘Loor’ dance, Rajasthani ‘Langa’ song or Holi, celebrating them in a conventional style wins many a heart.

SPORTS

Nationals, Bengal Mumbai qualify for finals
New Delhi, March 28
Delhi Soccer Association (DSA) Senior Division League runners-up SAIL-Indian Nationals and Bengal Mumbai Football Club qualified for the final round of the Second Division National Football League at the Ambedkar Stadium in the Capital on Thursday.

USJA to honour cricket coach Sunita Sharma
New Delhi, March 28
The Uttaranchal Sports Journalists’ Association (USJA) will honour well-known woman cricket coach Sunita Sharma and others during its third Annual Prize Distribution function to be held at the Garhwal Bhawan, Panchkuiya Road, on March 30.

Star to telecast India-Windies series
New Delhi, March 28
Star Sports will telecast the five-Test cricket series and five-match One-Day International (ODI) series between India and West Indies, starting on April 11. The Indians will be touring the Caribbean islands after winning the Test and one-day series against Zimbabwe. 

Sports corner
Kalmadi off to Pakistan
New Delhi, March 28
A three-member delegation of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), led by its president Mr Suresh Kalmadi, left for Islamabad on Thursday to attend the South Asian Sports Federation (SASF) Executive Board Meeting, to be held on March 30.

Run to be in the pink
New Delhi, March 28
The Health Fitness Trust, in association with the Heart Care Foundation, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the New Delhi Municipal Corporation, will hold a Carnival-Run-cum-Perfect Health Parade on April 7 in a bid to contain the rising incidence of various physical, mental and environmental diseases.