TOP STORIES

THE BJP PLEDGE
VIP security will not be intrusive, says BJP manifesto, yet…
New Delhi, February 2
In making light of the unprecedented security marking his public engagements Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee may have departed from his party’s espousal of the 10-Point Charter of Freedom that sets out for itself an agenda for institutional rejuvenation.

BJP leader’s suicide: Fallout of a Merchant Navy job racket gone awry?
Rewari, February 2
The suicide of national vice-president of the BJP Kisan Morcha, Ishwar Singh (55), on Thursday night here has sent shock waves in the party. Moreover, the revelations reportedly made in the suicide note, which is now in the possession of the police here, about one Rajiv Dalal of Rohtak, allegedly involved in a big ‘Merchant Navy employment racket,’ have added a serious dimension to the tragedy.

Rumblings in DPCC
New Delhi, February 2
The result of the Assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh will be keenly awaited in NCT of Delhi for reasons different. Knives are already out as Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit battles her detractors who have begun manoeuvring for her ouster.

A toddler on his tricycle joins the annual Terry Fox run, which was flagged off at the Canadian High Commission on Sunday morning. Terry Fox was just 18 when he was diagnosed as suffering from bone cancer. Yet, Terry ran across Canada to raise money for cancer research. —Photo by Anil Sharma

HURTING A MASCOT
Don’t even mock at Mayawati’s portrait
Ghaziabad, February 2
This is Mayawati land. And the officers, both police and civil, know what that for sure. And for anyone feigning ignorance, here is the dictum: Let no one pelt a stone at Chief Minister Mayawati’s portrait. If the uncanny happens, the cop’s had it.

CRIME AGAINST WOMEN
Noida police choose to wink at rape
Noida, February 2
While everywhere in the country the effort is on to tighten the law on crime against women, the Noida police seem to be helping those who commit heinous crimes like rape.

LKG OBSTACLE COURSE
Explain what kind of ‘observation’ was conducted: Court
New Delhi, February 2
Parents of children seeking admission to kindergarten will vouch for the fact that the admission tests conducted by the schools are gruelling. Schools across the city are notorious for conducting ‘entrance exams’ for children as young as four years. This despite academicians and health authorities slamming the tests as uncalled for.

NASA scientist stunned by Kalpana’s death 
Rohtak, February 2
Dr J.J. Singh, a distinguished research scientist in National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), was stunned when he read the lead news, ‘Columbia crashes over Texas’, in today’s newspapers at his farmhouse ‘Singhasan’ at Bhaprauda village near here. Dr Singh retired from the regular service in NASA four years ago and is currently associated with the prestigious organisation as a distinguished research scientist.

Parties salute Kalpana

Rohtak, February 2 Different political and apolitical organisations have expressed grief over the explosion of space shuttle Columbia and the subsequent death of all its seven crew members, including the Karnal-born Kalpana Chawla. A yagna being performed in the memory of Kalpana Chawala and other astronauts killed in the space shuttle explosion.

COMMUNITY

Onus on Centre to complete SYL canal: Chautala
Rewari, February 2
The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, has asserted that as per the apex court verdict, the construction of the SYL canal is now a certainty and it is for the Union Government to get it accomplished.

SPECIAL FOCUS ON SONEPAT
Unauthorised constructions condoned, drain on council 
Sonepat, February 2
The Sonepat Municipal Council has been suffering huge financial loss on account of non-recovery of charges for dumping building materials on public roads. According to a report, the employees of the building department have failed to check unauthorised constructions and alterations of houses and shops in different parts of the city.

Women keen to take charge in male-dominated Mewat
Nuh(Gurgaon), February 2
Subjected for long under the pall of male dominance, thousands of women from the six blocs of Mewat came out to demonstrate their growing awareness of their kindled spirit and their fundamental right to participate in the governance of the country.

Taj Economic Zone to provide greater connectivity to Noida
Noida, February 2
Fourteen special economic zones are being set up in the country, one each in 14 states, which will focus on the industrial and infrastructure development of the country.

‘Good’ turnout at Surajkund fair
Faridabad, February 2
Despite the cold weather conditions, the 17th Arts and Crafts Fair received a large number of visitors today. Filled with motifs and colour, the central courtyard or the chaupal has been beautified with traditional village scenes, which include a well, thatched huts, murals and platforms.

‘Dare Devils’ to rock Meerut on Feb 9
Meerut, February 2
The ‘Dare Devils’, famous for its acrobatic performances at the Rajpath on the auspicious occasion of Republic Day, are now going to rock Meerut on February 9, 2003.

FOLLOW-UP
Park to stay after L-G’s intervention
New Delhi, February 2
A park developed in seven acres in Nehru Place area in South Delhi will not be destroyed now after the intervention of Lt-Governor Vijay Kapoor as there was fighting between the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and Paharpur Business Centre over the issue of park.

NCR BRIEFS
Two women commit suicide
Greater Noida, February 2
The deaths of three women have been reported in Greater Noida. Of three, two have committed suicide in separate incidents due to domestic strife. Both of them torched themselves after pouring kerosene. The third one died in mysterious circumstances.

Encroachments removed

HUJ flays killing of NAFA editor

DELHI DIGEST Dacoits’ gang busted, five held New Delhi, February 2 East district police today claimed to have busted a gang of dacoits who were involved in several cases of dacoities, robberies and murders in Buland Shahr, Sikendrabad and Delhi with the arrest of five suspects.

Body of missing youth found in Najafgarh
Sonepat, February 2
The Gohana police recovered the body of a youth, Sandeep of Mahmoodpur village, from a location in Delhi yesterday. According to a report, the youth had been missing since December 29 last year.

BUSINESS

SHOWCASE
Digital electronic stabilisers for ACs, refrigerators and deep freezers 
Microtek International has launched its range of highly reliable digital electronic stabilisers with smart time delay for use in airconditioners, refrigerators, deep freezers and other costly equipment. The digital electronic stabilisers have digitally controlled circuitry to provide better control.

EDUCATION

SCHOOL BUZZ
Schools join the patriotic chorus on R-Day
Schools across the city celebrated Republic Day with patriotic fervour. Amidst singing of nationalistic songs and the National Anthem, National Flag was also raised in many schools. Students pledged to uphold the virtues of integrity and prosperity.

Kudos to Anjali Gupta Punjabi Cultural day Vision 2003

Ryan foreign tour Road safety drive Quiz contest

PRINCIPALSPEAK Let self-confidence and strong will-power energise your life When the going gets tough and darkness seems to descend on you let your inner dynamo dispel the darkness and light up your life. You carry the light of life within you, whose energisers are your self-confidence and will power. These will help you recondition your attitude till you have turned your negativism into positivism.

NAAC releases report on Vaish College
Bhiwani, February 2
The deputy adviser to the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), Dr. Srinivas, said that NAC will finish its work in all colleges of Haryana by March. While talking to mediapersons during a two-day visit of the four-member committee, an autonomous body of the University Grant Commission (UGC), at the local Vaish College, Dr. Srinivas said that the committee was visiting the colleges of the state in order to bring technical improvement in the field of higher education and remove the prevailing difficulties faced by the colleges and universities.

COURTS

RULE OF THE LAW
HC for retired armymen in police patrol
New Delhi, February 2
The Delhi High Court has directed the Central Government to consider a plan whereby retired armymen could be inducted into the police patrol. The direction is a result of the concern for an increasing number of attacks on the senior citizens.

SPORTS

Hindustan drub Moonlight in DSA League
New Delhi, February 2
Reigning champions Hindustan Club drubbed Moonlight 3-0 in the first leg semi-final of the Delhi Soccer Association (DSA)-SAIL Senior Division League at the Ambedkar Stadium on Sunday.

Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag and Saurav Ganguly during a Hero Honda “shoot” before their departure to South Africa to play in the World Cup Cricket Championship.

Mercedes Trophy  golf from Feb 22
New Delhi, February 2
The Mercedes Trophy Golf Tournament will be held at the DLF Golf and Country Club on February 22. The third edition of the tournament got off to a kick-start in Bangalore on Saturday. The final round will be held in Pune on March 8. Over 450 players will vie for the top honours. Precision, drives, smooth putts and sound swing mechanics will be the main features of the contests.

Chetan Academy, Gyan Bharti enter final
New Delhi, February 2
Chetan Sharma Academy defeated National Stadium Coaching Centre by three wickets and entered the final of the first Chetan Sharma Academy Under-12 Cricket Tournament at the Frank Anthony School ground. Chetan Sharma Academy will take on Gyan Bharti South Delhi Academy in the final.

• S B Youth beat Golden Hawks

Somdev Devvarman wins double crown
New Delhi, February 2
Second-seeded Somdev Devvarman won a double crown when he annexed the singles and doubles titles in the ITF Juniors Grade 3 Tennis Tournament at the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association court on Sunday.

Hectic polo season ahead
New Delhi, February 2
The Delhi spring polo season, which began with the SMS Gold Vase on January 28, will conclude with the Maharaja Jiwaji Rao Scindia Gold Cup, to be held at the Army Eqestrian ground, Delhi Cantonment and the Jaipur Polo ground at Race Course, from February 18 to 23.