We are sitting ducks, admits CM
New Delhi, December 19
The feeling of insecurity, which has gripped the people of National Capital Territory, was voiced by the Delhi Chief Minister, Ms Sheila Dikshit, in the Delhi Assembly today, when she claimed that the members in the Delhi Secretariat were ‘sitting ducks’ if the terrorists chose to strike.

MLAs give themselves a jump in salary, perks
New Delhi, December 19
Three Bills providing for an upward revision in the pay and allowances of ministers, legislators and the Leader of Opposition were introduced in the Assembly on Wednesday. After the passage of the Bill, the Chief Minister would take home Rs 26,000 a month and ministers Rs 24,000 a month. The Government would thus incur an additional expenditure of Rs 1.21 crore a year.

• Another scare near Parliament

CM vows to make Martyrdom Day a gazetted holiday

New Delhi, December 19 The Delhi Chief Minister, Ms Sheila Dikshit, today assured the State Assembly that the Government would take measures to declare Guru Tegh Bahadur Martyrdom Day a gazetted holiday in the Capital. The Martyrdom Day of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the Ninth Guru of the Sikhs, was marked by a grand procession led by the ‘Panj Piyaras.’ They were followed by Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee President Jathedar Avtar Singh Hit, DSGMC General Secretary Kulmohan Singh, Sr Vice President Dilwinder Singh Ayur, Jr Vice President Shamsher Singh Sandhu, Jt Secretary Jasbir Singh Kaka, Chairman Dharam Prachar Committee Inderpal Singh Khalsa and other members of the DSGMC. The procession started from Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib, Chandni Chowk. This gurdwara is dedicated to the memory of Guru Tegh Bahadur, who laid down his life in 1675. The procession, after passing through Chandni Chowk, Nai Sarak, Ajmeri Gate, Pahar Ganj and Connaught Place, terminated at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib. — Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

Govt ready to hold gurdwara polls in June
New Delhi, December 19
The state government is ready to hold general election to the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee in June 2002, the Delhi Finance Minister, Mr Mahinder Singh Saathi, in-charge of gurdwara polls, informed the Delhi Assembly on Wednesday.

At 126, Mauji Ram has not seen enough Noida, December 19 Mauji Ram is a battle-scarred veteran, who claims to be 126-years-old, though the furrows on his brow don’t show. Nor does the cataract in his left eye, for which he was operated upon at Noida’s ‘I-Care’ hospital by Dr Sushil Chaudhry and his team on December 11, 2001. “I am feeling all right and can see clearly from my left eye now,’’ announces Mauji. He has, however, not been as fortunate with his right eye, which was also operated for cataract some time back by an NGO. “There is no light in it,” says Mauji. Mauji Ram claims to be 126-yrs-old. — Tribune Photo

Illicit liquor consuming Faridabad
Faridabad, December 19
There seems to be no let-up in the sale and smuggling of illicit liquor in the district. Although routine seizures are made, the smuggling network is deeply entrenched and is able to dupe the authorities.

NCR BRIEFS
Ex-employers stab youth to death
Jhajjar, December 19
A youth was allegedly murdered with sharp-edged weapons by three persons at Lowa Khurd village in the Bahadurgarh sub-division here today. According to the police, the deceased, Sandeep Kumar (20), had worked as an intern to learn tailoring with Ashoka Tailors in the village.

COMMUNITY

Rules go for a toss as Delhi’s junk autos plod in Gurgaon
Gurgaon, December 19
Three-wheelers plying in the city seem to care two hoots for the rule of the land. Autorickshaws have not only been causing pollution but their drivers are also posing a traffic hazard by their reckless driving as well as overloading of passengers.

LITTLE FAIRIES ON THE RAMP

Models at a Ritu Beri fashion show in the Capital on Wednesday. — Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggrawal

Panel raps Centre on CNG mess
New Delhi, December 19
A Parliamentary Standing Committee has blamed the Centre’s “non-serious” attitude for the problems of CNG availability for public transport vehicles in the Capital while saying that “the problem has become more complex in the recent past”.

IN PARLIAMENT
Dense traffic a risk to Parliament
New Delhi, December 19
Heavy traffic outside Parliament poses a security hazard to the vital installation in the Capital. However, the Delhi Police have deployed additional PCR vans and intensified foot and mobile patrolling in the area to safeguard it, the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Mr Vidyasagar Rao, has informed the Lok Sabha.

Special cover on Rarewala released New Delhi, December 19 The Postal Department prepared a special cover to mark the birth centenary of S. Gian Singh Rarewala, the first Chief Minister of PEPSU state. The cover was released at a glittering function here by Mr S. Tarlochan Singh, Vice-Chairman, National Commission for Minorities.

• Govt to set up eco-task force

CRIME

Bridegroom robbed of Rs 35,000
New Delhi, December 19
Two robbery cases were reported last night in the Capital. In the first case, Mr Mohammad Zakir (30), resident of Gokulpuri, was robbed of Rs 35,000 and other valuables by three unidentified assailants who came in a car.

Auto thief held in Sonepat
Sonepat, December 19
The Uttar Pradesh police have arrested Dharamvir, resident of the West Ram Nagar area of the city, in connection with lifting autorickshaws from that state. It is stated that the UP police had conducted a raid without informing the local police and taken Dharamvir away from his house.

BUSINESS

Noida authority blows hot and cold over shopping mall
Noida, December 19
The Noida authority has abandoned a prestigious project of a shopping mall, worth Rs 200 crore, even before it was ceremoniously launched. A shopping mall is spread over 50,000 square metre area between Sector 15-A and 16-A in Noida’s VIP belt.

SIDBI launches soft loans for small units
Faridabad, December 19
The Small Industries Development Bank of India has launched loan schemes to meet the credit requirements of small units in the manufacturing sector. This was announced by Mrs Arun Grover, General Manager of SIDBI’s Faridabad branch, at a function organised by the Faridabad Small Industries Association here recently.

When the health care system itself is terminally ill
Sonepat, December 19
A random survey of Government hospitals, dispensaries, primary health centres and private nursing homes as well as interviews with specialists and private medical practitioners in Sonepat and other parts of the district have revealed that the available medical facilities are wholly inadequate because of the continuous influx of population from the surrounding villages.

Men too can have breast cancer
New Delhi, December19
Breast cancer in women has achieved a level of awareness, unrivalled by any other form of cancer in India. This is a healthy development as far as cancer control is concerned. However, breast cancer affects men as well though the chance of a man developing this cancer is much less than that of a woman.

Dr Arun Goel, Senior Consultant, Surgical Oncology, Dharmashila Cancer Hospital

SPORTS

Delhi reel under J & K fury in Under-22 League
New Delhi, December 19
Delhi were reeling under the fury of Jammu and Kashmir in the North Zone Under-22 Cricket League when the hosts faced a 230-run deficit on day two at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground in the Capital on Wednesday.

Harish hits unbeaten century Cricket, a grand leveller ALL MERRY AS CRICKET: National Stadium cricket coach Maninder Singh keenly observes the batting techniques of one of his trainees, Amandeep Singh, who is deaf and dumb, in the Capital on Wednesday. — Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

Haryana to hold National Wrestling at Nidani
Chautala to inaugurate the Championship
New Delhi, December 19
The Wrestling Federation of India will organise the 48th Senior Men’s Free Style and Greco Roman and the fifth Women’s Wrestling Championships at the Chaudhary Bharat Singh Memorial Sports School and the Bhai Surinder Singh Memorial Sports School for girls at Nidani in Jind District of Haryana from December 21 to 25.

‘No direct recruitment for sportspersons’
New Delhi, December 19
Meritorious sportspersons who would have otherwise had the opportunity of serving the Delhi Police have been left in the lurch on account of no direct recruitment having been made this year. According to Central Government rules, five per cent of the posts filled by direct recruitment are reserved for candidates from the sports quota.

Mayor All-India Junior Golf from Dec 26
New Delhi, December 19
The Mayor All-India Junior Golf Championship will be held from December 26 to January 4 at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club. The Mayor Group, best known for its manufacture of soccer balls and other inflatable balls, is a supplier to many international brands such as Adidas, Umbro, Mitre and Dunlop. 

Syndicate Bank to sponsor chess team
New Delhi, December 19
Syndicate Bank will sponsor the Delhi Children's Chess team for the National Championship, to be held in Chennai in the last week of December.