TOP STORIES

Delhi bears burden of NCR: Sheila

New Delhi, October 19 The development of the National Capital Region (NCR) holds the key to the progress of Delhi. Unless the participating states like Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh also contribute, the development of the NCR cannot be achieved, the Delhi Chief Minister, Ms Sheila Dikshit.

Why is all the burden on us, asks Sheila. — Tribune photo Mukesh Aggarwal

EXCLUSIVE
Tea stall now abode of ‘god’
New Delhi, October 19
Four years ago he was running a makeshift tea stall on the pavement of a government colony in South Delhi. Today, the nondescript stall has turned into a temple, big enough to usurp a bit of the main road running along a pavement.

Shahrukh Khan and Juhi Chawla hosted a press conference in New Delhi today, ahead of the premiere of their ambitious project ‘Asoka’. Shahrukh Khan plays the eponymous role with Kareena Kapoor as Kaurwaki. It is reported the film may be nominated for the Oscars. Anu Malik’s scintillating music is one of the highlights of the film, but it is Kareena’s sensuous new look and costumes which have already caught the imagination of film buffs.

CNG transporters cannot breathe easy yet
New Delhi, October 19
Even as commuters heaved a sigh of relief following the Supreme Court's decision to extend the deadline to January 31 for the conversion of diesel buses to CNG mode, a Delhi Government notification issued last month has threatened to throw the private CNG bus fleet out of gear in the city.

Surfing the soap for a nocturnal date New Delhi, October 19 The oldest profession in the world is perhaps the most adaptive. Its latest foray is in the electronic media; the upshot is that you need not scour the streets for a one-night stand. Instead, you can switch on prime time TV and fix up a date for the evening. In fact, some homespun TV serials have become the Yellow Book of the Capital’s upmarket call-girls.

Devotees take a dip at Bangla Sahib gurdwara sarovar. — Tribune photo

Gurdwara that heals
GURDWARAS in the Capital have a key place in the Khalsa Panth even though many don’t know about their historic roles. Be it the birth of Khalsa Panth, the Panj Pyaras or the teachings of the Sikh Gurus, Delhi has had its importance since the time of Guru Nanak.

Safari park on former PM’s Bhondsi land
Gurgaon, October 19
The Haryana Government has decided to set up a lion and deer safari park on the land acquired by it in Bhondsi village near here after the Supreme Court released the land from the possession of former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar.

Escorts stir snowballs
Faridabad, October 19
What has started as a protest strike against the suspension of an employee of one of the nine plants of the Escorts group in Faridabad one-and-a-half months ago is snowballing into a major industrial dispute. At stake is the future of over 10,000 employees of the group as well as around 40,000 workers of the ancillary units.

COMMUNITY

Encroachers in Gurgaon get restive
Gurgaon, October 19
Fearing strong action from the authorities against the unauthorised structures as demonstrated by the demolitions in Surya Vihar Colony a few days ago, residents of dubious colonies in Gurgaon have decided to jointly meet the district administration on Sunday to plead their case.

THE ACHIEVERS
No full stops for this city philanthropist
New Delhi, October 19
What began as a pastime was soon to become a passion and septuagenarian Nand Parkash Thareja knows it better. “Post-retirement I didn’t quite fancy the idea of living a sedate life,” he muses while taking a stroll in the park that is a veritable oasis of greenery in an otherwise parched landscape of Delhi.

‘Save Indians in Kabul’
New Delhi, October 19
Worried about the Indians citizens who are trapped in Afghanistan, Peshawar, Kabul and Jalalabad, where the US-led Northern alliance has been launching attacks at present, the All India Anti-Terrorist Front (AIATF), has requested the United Nations Office to intervene and help the Indians reach their country safely without any tension.

SPEAKING OUT

Is anybody listening out there?
Oh mankind! Quo vadis?
A common man beckons.
Fundamentalism with all its wickedness is inflicting devastating effects on mankind. I recall the Mahamuni, late Sri Chandrasekharendra Swamigal of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, expressing the view that mankind could have been born absolutely dumb. What we see, feel and experience today are monsters; their tribe is ruling the roost and it cares two hoots about regulating its day-to-day thoughts, speeches and reactions.

CRIME

Another murder bid in Malviya Nagar
New Delhi, October 19
In a continuing lawlessness in Malviya Nagar, there was another attempted case of murder when a property dealer was shot at and injured. The property dealer, Mr Bhupinder Singh alias Tinku (36) was shot at by an unidentified person.

Telecom officer held for accepting bribe
Ghaziabad, October 19
A junior officer of the Telecom Department was recently arrested red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 500 by a team of the Anti-Corruption Wing, Meerut. In protest, staff of the telephone exchange, Pratap Vihar, under the Vijay Nagar police station in Ghaziabad, reportedly manhandled the team of the Anti-Corruption Wing, Meerut.

• Land fraud thwarted
  

CULTURE

Extravaganza at Qutab today
New Delhi, October 19
Music and dance during the two-day Qutab festival, which starts in the Capital tomorrow, will set the tone for the beginning of the festive season. Set in the backdrop of the 12th century monument, renowned singers and dancers from different musical traditions will give performances.

SPORTS

Will there be no requiem for Ferozeshah Kotla?
Plan afoot to complete stadium of international class in ten months

New Delhi, October 19 More than two lakh children reportedly play cricket in Delhi, yet the Capital lacks a cricket stadium of international standard. The visiting teams have made one complaint or the other about the state of affairs at the only international ground in Delhi _ the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) ground at Ferozeshah Kotla. The Ferozeshah Kotla ground is being given a f ace-lift for international matches. — A Tribune photograph

Amity School bags trophy
New Delhi, October 19
The Inter-Amity Sports Meet, in which 350 students from 19 schools and institutions participated, concluded in Noida today.

ADMINISTRATION

HUDA recipe for unauthorised colonies
Faridabad, October 19
Here’s good news for residents of several unauthorised colonies here which have been facing the threat of demolition by the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA).

Faridabad getting its act in place
Faridabad, October 19
The Municipal Corporation of Faridabad (MCF) is finally coming out of its stupor to clean up its act. Following reports of the spread of malaria and dengue fever, the civic authorities have decided to launch an awareness campaign and involve the residents in its drive to clean up the `stinking’ areas.

Uttar Pradesh to enforce VAT
Ghaziabad, October 19
According to the Uttar Pradesh Additional Trade Tax Commissioner, Mr J.P. Srivastava, the state is committed to introducing value-added Tax (VAT) system from April next year in the entire state.

ST reservation restored
New Delhi, October 19
The Delhi Government today restored the reservation to Scheduled Tribes with immediate effect for recruitment to local bodies, undertakings and organisations under the state government.