TOP STORIES

Can Cong, BJP forge a consensus?
New Delhi, October 15
The Congress and the BJP will hold talks on Wednesday evening for forging a consensus on a suitable dispensation for the NCT of Delhi. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and BJP President Madan Lal Khurana will lead their respective delegations to the meeting.

Senior education officials relearning Hindi alphabet
Meerut, October 15
A… aa… e… ee… These are not the conventional noises heard in any primary school of Uttar Pradesh. These emanate from K V College premises on Garh Road, where senior officials of the Education Department in Meerut Division are being trained in Hindi alphabet and grammar.

Cricket gets a fillip in Capital’s backyard
Rohtak, October 15
Cricketers hailing from Delhi’s neighbouring districts are dominating in the selection trials of the State team for Ranji Trophy this season. Out of the selected 20 probables for India’s premier domestic cricket championship, 17 belong to Rohtak, Faridabad and Gurgaon districts. Besides skipper Ajay Ratra, Manvinder Bisla, Shafiq Khan, Ishan Ganda, Saurabh Virmani, Dharmender Phagna and Rajesh Puri belong to Faridabad district.

Sonepat civic body ready to dump more garbage…
Sonepat, October 15
Despite the stiff resistance put up by owners of commercial establishments and residents, the Sonepat Municipal Council has intensified its campaign to dump garbage and filth in front of the shops and houses of tax defaulters.

A day of bonfires 
New Delhi, October 15
Hundreds of effigies of demon king Ravana went up in flames as the sun dipped beyond the horizon today, reiterating once again the victory of good over evil. Thousands of people watched the effigies crackle and finally crumble amidst loud bursting of crackers and lusty cheers of “Rama Chandra Ki Jai”. As the sun began to set, three arrows were fired at the huge effigies of Ravana, Meghnath and Kumbakarna, exploding these in a series. The effigies caught fire, illuminating the venue as the crowds cheered and chanted slogans in praise of Lord Ram.

No respite for Ravana & his kin
Gurgaon, October 15
It was no respite for the mythological Ravana and his kin with residents of the areas of old and new parts of this city making common cause in burning their effigies with gusto. The congregations at a large number of public places where the effigies were burnt gave one the impression as if all Gurgaonites had taken to the streets to demolish Ravana, epitomised as evil by the Hindu myth.

• Tallest Ravana

Karisma will not follow in mother’s footsteps

New Delhi, October 15 Marriages symbolise a new beginning, but for the leading ladies of Bollywood it marks the beginning of the end, of their innings in tinsel town. The tinkling of the wedding bells is often a signal for retirement. But for Karisma Kapoor, the soon-to be Bachchan bahu, the saga with the screen will continue. The actress, who made her first appearance in the Capital after her much talked about engagement with Abhishek Bachchan, told newspersons that she will continue to act after marriage.

COMMUNITY

Devotees of Durga on their way to the Yamuna for immersion on the occasion of Vijaya Dashami in the Capital on Tuesday. — Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

CPM seeks canal water for tail-end fields
Rohtak, October 15
The Haryana unit of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has called upon the government and its Irrigation Department to ensure availability of canal water in view of the ensuing sowing of Rabi crops. The party has expressed concern over the fate of farmers whose fields are at the tail-end of canals and are being deprived of their due share of water.

Suspend Gohana Water Division staff: BKU
Sonepat, October 15
Leaders of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) and other farmers’ organisations today urged the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, to order immediate suspension of the officials of the Gohana Water Service Division, who were responsible for the shortage of canal water for irrigation purposes.

AIATF to intensify drive against terrorists 
Sonepat, October 15
The All-India Anti-Terrorist Front has decided to intensify its campaign against the terrorists operating in Haryana, particularly in the areas bordering the National Capital. Stating this, Mr Satish Bansal, president of the Haryana unit of the front, told mediapersons here today that the front had started setting up its branches and offices at the district headquarters in Haryana to keep an eye on the activities of terrorists who have infiltrated in the districts bordering Delhi.

THE ACHIEVERS
The social worker in him was born during ’84 riots
New Delhi, October 15
He wanted to be a teacher but destiny willed him to take up social work. It was 1984 and he was studying in Dayal Singh College when anti-Sikh riots broke out following the assassination of the then Prime Minister, Mrs Indira Gandhi. Sikhs all over were being hunted and massacred by organised bands.

10,000 Jamiat men court arrest

New Delhi, October 15 The general secretary of the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, Maulana Mahmood , led a group of 10,313 protestors who courted arrest on the last day of its “jail bharo” movement. Addressing a group of protestors, Maulana Mahmood said the RSS, the Bajrang Dal and the VHP are agents of the ISI and the CIA. Volunteers of the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind courting arrest on the last day of their agitation.

NCR BRIEFS
Special exhibition train stationed at Faridabad
Faridabad, October 15
A special `exhibition’ train of the Indian Railways has arrived at the old Faridabad railway station. Its doors were thrown open to the public by the Deputy Commissioner this morning. The train will halt here till October 17.

Depot-holder held

Cane charge

DELHI DIGEST Gun goes off, ITDC ex-official killed New Delhi, October 15 A 60-year-old retired person from the ITDC died today afternoon when a bullet from his double-barrel gun hit him accidentally while he was cleaning the weapon. According to the police, Jagmohan Sehgal (60), resident of Neb Sarai, was cleaning his double-barrel licenced gun around 1 pm when he accidentally pulled the trigger. He was immediately rushed to Batra Hospital but was declared brought dead.

Plantation drive success rate 95 pc
Faridabad, October 15
The survival rate of trees planted in the district during the plantation drive has been about 95 per cent. Claiming this, the district authorities in a press release issued yesterday said that a two-member committee set up for south Haryana had conducted a survey of the saplings.

CRIME

Rs 1.40 lakh robbed at pistol-point
New Delhi, October 15
Four unidentified youths robbed Rs 1.40 lakh from an agency owner of TATA Tea when he was going to meet somebody in West Balbir Nagar in Shahadra on Monday morning. The victim, Raju (28), was going on a two-wheeler along with his friend.

Youth crushed to death
Sonepat, October 15
An unidentified youth was crushed to death by a speedy unknown vehicle on the GT road, near Kundli village, about 25 km from here, last night. According to a report, the youth was crossing the road when the accident occurred. The Kundli police have registered a case and further investigations are in progress.

Woman gets hubby abducted 
Rohtak, October 15
In an interesting incident, a married woman, who had been living separately from her husband for the past 20 years, allegedly got him abducted from Janta colony here this morning to bring him on the ‘right path’. However, the police raided a place at Kiloi village and rescued the ‘abducted’ husband in the evening.

EDUCATION

Admission to Ignou management courses begins 
New Delhi, October 15
Admission to the Management Programmes 2003 of Indira Gandhi National Open University (Ignou) has begun. The Management Programme of Ignou includes Master of Business Administration (MBA), Diploma in Management (DIM), Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDIM), Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management (PGDHRM), Post Graduate Diploma in Financial Management (PGDFM), Post Graduate Diploma in Operations Management (PGDOM) and Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing Management (PGDMM).

CAMPUS SCENE
Learning how to conduct poll, the JNU way
New Delhi, October 15
“Another university, another students union, another elections – the whole story repeated all over again,” would probably be how an average DU student responds to the mention of JNU Students’ Union elections. But for those holding this opinion the JNU elections serve as a great eye opener, a “learning experience”, as some might say.

CULTURE

GLITZ & GLAMOUR
A one-stop shop for bridal wear 

For the designer house that has taken on the onerous task of making a woman resplendent in her everyday attire, it is only fair to expect it to come up with effulgent wear for the wedding day. Satya Paul and L’affaire unveiled their bridal collection last week during the Sunsilk Bridal Asia show. The theme was constructed along vibrant, yet understated lines, for the bride who tsreads the modern turf with traditions intact. The collection has a range of lehngas, from the multi-coloured kalis in rich silk with intricate embroidery and reshams work to the absolute colour line with vibrant hues. Dressing up for the wedding season.

Adonis, take a bow Body truth Mughalai wear Bohemian touch

Complete look For brides only Band of boys

HEALTH

Apollo Hospital CMO ‘refuses to accept’ cornea
New Delhi, October 15
Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, which counts itself as one of the six best corporate hospitals in the world, seems to care little about sensitivity in dealing with patients. In a recent case, the Chief Medical Officer of the hospital (now in the UK), Mr Sunil Kumar, allegedly refused to accept the cornea of a 71-year-old patient despite repeated pleas by his relatives.

SPORTS

DDCA shortlists 27  players for Ranji 
New Delhi, October 15
The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) has shortlisted 27 players, with Vijay Dahiya as captain, for selecting the Ranji Trophy cricket team. The senior selection committee, under the chairmanship of Chetan Chauhan, met on Monday to shortlist the players from among 40 odd probables who had attended the selection trials.

Allahabad crush Karnataka in cricket
New Delhi, October 15
An unbeaten 54 by Uttar Pradesh Ranji Trophy player Nasir Ali and 54 by Virender Upadhyay helped Allahabad High Court beat Karnataka High Court by eight wickets in a league match of the 14th All-India Advocates' Cricket Tournament at the Khalsa College ground.

Ratra to lead Haryana in Ranji 
Rohtak, October 15
National player Ajay Ratra will lead Haryana in the Ranji Trophy this season. Giving this information, Honorary Secretary of the Haryana Cricket Association, Mr Ranbir Singh Mahendra, said that 20 probables for the Haryana Ranji team were also finalised after trials held at Bhiwani.

Time-Distance family car rally
New Delhi, October 15
The second "Time, Distance and Speed" family car rally, organised by Rashi Entertainment, will be held on October 20. A guiding route map will be given to each participant, detailing the speed to be maintained, the time to be followed and the distance to be covered.

Indian Yoga team victorious
Rohtak, October 15
Seven member Indian Yoga team won the overall general championship in the XI World Cup Yoga Sports, held at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, recently. The Yoga team from Brazil and Ukraine were the joint-runners-up, whereas the third position was shared between Portugal and Argentina. 

Shahabad beat Aizawl in Nehru Hockey
New Delhi, October 15
SGNP Girls Senior Secondary School, Shahabad (Haryana) scored a stunning 9-0 victory against T H Memorial High School, Aizawl (Mizoram) in the 9th Nehru Girls Hockey Tournament at the Shivaji Stadium on Wednesday. The Haryana girls led by five goals at the interval.

Hansraj Model School in semis
New Delhi, October 15
Fierce bowling performances by Sahil Arora (4 for 26) and Sachin Gaurav (3 for 26) helped Hansraj Model School defeat Gyan Bharti School, Saket by 76 runs and entered the semi-final of the Parle Cup Inter-School Under-17 Cricket Tournament at the Bharat Nagar ground. Sahil Arora was declared the man of the match.

• GE Capital beat Kashyap in Phadkar cricket