TOP STORIES

Congressmen, BJP sound poll bugle
New Delhi, February 3
It was a silent march that drew loud noises from the Congress and the BJP camps alike. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and her party’s legislators on Tuesday negotiated the streets of the Capital on foot to protest against the BJP-led NDA Government’s perceived reluctance to pass the Delhi State Bill 2003 even as the youth wing of the BJP assembled near the Delhi Secretariat to “expose” the “deceptive policy” of the Government of NCT of Delhi insofar as the issue of statehood is concerned.

Polio drops being given for Rs 50 in Vaishali
Ghaziabad, February 3
The residents of Vaishali are being taken for a ride by some youngsters, who are masquerading as health workers and administering ‘polio drops’ to children. They are also forcibly charging Rs.50 per child.

• Two arrested with pornography material

Ms Eike Riesterer of the US demonstrates how Tellington touch therapy works on a captive elephant at the elephant colony near ITO in the Capital on Tuesday. The therapy involves pushing the skin of the animal around in circles, which is supposed to have an impact on physical healing. — Tribune photo by Mukesh Aggarwal

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and her Cabinet colleagues staged a peace march to Jantar Mantar on the statehood issue in the Capital on Tuesday. — Tribune photo by Mukesh Aggarwal

Interim relief
GB Nagar welcomes stay order
Noida, February 3
People in Gautam Budh Nagar on Tuesday celebrated the stay order passed by Allahabad High court against the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister’s decision, scrapping nine districts and four commissionaries on January 13, 2004.

• Get your greeting cards recycled

• Rallies, dharnas to continue for GB Nagar district

Surajkund remains a speck on the map only
Faridabad, February 3
Eighteen years have passed since the craft mela started at Surajkund. In due course, Surajkund has become known not only for the annual fair, but also for its hilly terrain. Yet, Surajkund’s potential as a tourist spot remains largely untapped.

Delhi BJP chief Harshvardhan with party activists protesting against the failure of the Delhi Government to provide basic amenities in the Capital on Tuesday. — Tribune photo by Mukesh Aggarwal

‘Delhi govt is in undue haste to implement UAM’
New Delhi, February 3
Despite several objections from various associations, RWAs and general public against the introduction of Unit Area Method (UAM) of property tax, it appears that Delhi Government and MCD is in undue haste to implement the anti-people measure, according to Vjinder Gupta, member of the society written of the MCD.

Girl students, principal in tow, march 11 km in protest
Sonepat: Hundreds of students and teachers of the new Tagore Girls Senior Secondary School, Bahalgarh, today took out a procession to Sonepat to protest against the “activities” of the school manager. During the 11-km march, which was led by the school principal, Ms Sushila Malik, students raised slogans against the management and even pelted stones at the residence of the manager.

COMMUNITY

Farmers bear the brunt of erratic canal water supply
Sonepat, February 3
Farmers in the villages of Gohana Water Service Division in the district have not been receiving their due share of irrigation water for the past few months due to erratic and inadequate canal water supply and alleged theft of irrigation water. As a result, water does not reach the tail end of the distribution system.

Loadsheddings throw normal life out of gear
Sonepat, February 3
There has been no let up in the loadsheddings being enforced by the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam in Sonepat city and its surrounding areas. The unprecedented loadshedding has paralysed the normal life in the region, adversely affecting business and industrial activities. Above all, the residents have had to undergo hardship as the drinking water supply system had been hit hard.

Mr S. S. Kohli, CMD, PNB, Mr D. P. Singh and Mr S. K. Awasti, GMs, and two judges, during the 21st All India Inter Zone Cultural Meet, 2003-04 at Pearey Lal Bhawan in the Capital.

Arrangements for Mahasabha Gurukul Vidyapeeth reviewed
Sonepat, February 3
The Inspector General of Police, Rohtak Range, Mr Sharad Kumar, reviewed the arrangements for the annual function of the Mahasabha Gurukul Vidyapeeth, Khanpur and Bhainswal Kalan, on February 7.

Delhi digest
Plans to celebrate 500th birth anniversary of Guru Angad Dev
New Delhi, February 3
The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee has drawn up elaborate plans to celebrate the 500th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Angad Dev. Guru Angad Dev was born on March 31, 1504, at Muktasar in Punjab.

• Icy winds sweep Capital

• IACM Scholar Awards

NCR briefs
Boy killed after falling from moving train
Faridabad, February 3
A seven-year-old boy travelling with his parents was killed after falling down from a train. Reportedly, the victim was preparing to alight from the Kerala Express and was moving his luggage near the door while the train was several kilometres away from the station.

CRIME

Man posing as MP arrested
New Delhi, February 3
The Delhi Police Special Cell claimed to have nabbed one person who posed himself as an MP for the transfer of a customs official. The cell phone used by the accused along with other incriminating documents were recovered from his possession.

• Gang of bus robbers busted

Criminal nabbed in encounter
Noida, February 3
The Jahangirpur police claimed to have arrested a criminal after an encounter while two of his companions managed to flee. A country-made pistol and live cartridges were seized from the nabbed criminal.

EDUCATION

Admn gears up to check copying menace
Sonepat, February 3
The district administration has started elaborate measures to curb the menace of copying during school examinations likely to conducted during February and March. As per the directions of the state government, the deputy commissioner has constituted district and block level committees, which will coordinate in framing anti-copying measures as well as suggesting improvements in the education standard.

Workshop on special teaching techniques for dyslexic children
New Delhi, February 3
Arlene Sonday, one of world’s leading special teaching technique expert and creator of the widely-used “Sonday System”, will conduct ‘READ 2004’, India’s first-ever workshop on special teaching techniques for dyslexic children.

CULTURE

Come March and the city will play host to dsyn 04, an international trade event showcasing the exceptional design, textiles and apparel manufacturing expertise and capabilities of the Indian fashion industry. Aimed to be an annual event, it has been established by the National Institute of Fashion Technology and is supported by the Ministry of Textiles.
Joey Mathews, Lakshmi Rana, Sapna Kumar, Achyutha Sharma and Bharat Arora displaying international collections - Zara, Valentino, DKNY, Wrangler, Collette Dinnijan and Easton Pearson.

Another John Abraham in the making
From Aaryabhata Polytechnic, Delhi, to Asha Chandra Acting Institute, he has travelled a long way. For this 22-year-old resident of Janakpuri area of Delhi, the switchover from mechanical engineering to acting came quite naturally due to his obsession and passion.

Antique desires
Crafted pieces of jewellery are hard to resist. And that is what duo Manish and Nikhil have in mind while designing pieces that will stand out for their design and craftsmanship.

American director visits AAFT
Renowned American film producer and director, Karl Bradosh, has given an ‘A’ to the infrastructure available in India.

Shetty at Esthetix
Actor Suniel Shetty, accompanied by his wife and director Mahesh Manjrekar, were in town recently. The trio visited Esthetix, a designer furniture showroom.

HEALTH

Health watch
Experts warn against administering strong drugs to children for quick recovery
New Delhi, February 3
Powerful medicines may not necessarily be safe. And its always sensible to be all the more judicious when giving such medicines to children, warn experts. They suggest a greater role of doctors and community in choosing medication that is not only effective but also safe.

SPORTS

New Delhi, February 3 The Delhi Under-19 team, who defeated Uttar Pradesh on the basis of the first innings lead to lift the Cooch-Behar Trophy Cricket Championship at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Monday, was accorded a warm welcome by the Delhi and District Cricket Association on Tuesday.
The Delhi Under-19 team, who lifted the Cooch-Behar Cricket Trophy, with Delhi and District Cricket Association president Arun Jaitley.

Children performing acrobatic drills at the Ramlila Maidan at Pitampura.

Hindu College, SGTB sail into semi-finals
New Delhi, February 3
Hindu College and Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Khalsa College (Evening) entered the semi-finals of the Inter-College Cricket Tournament.

United Academy win final
New Delhi, February 3
United Delhi Cricket Academy defeated St. Lawrence School by ten wickets and entered the final of the seventh Little Masters Under-12 Cricket Tournament at the Major Dhyan Chand Sports Complex ground.

• Krishan bowls Ganga to victory

• South Delhi enter semis