New Delhi, October 29
The stage is set for a complete commercial shutdown in the Capital from tomorrow in response to a 72-hour ‘Delhi Bandh’ call by traders in protest against the proposed sealing drive by the MCD from November 1. The Bandh call has been given by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT).

With no concrete relief in sight, either from the Centre or the Supreme Court-appointed Monitoring Committee over the sealing issue, traders in Delhi have geared themselves up to make the proposed three-day Bandh from tomorrow morning a huge success.

Shopkeepers in all the major markets, including commercial hubs like Karol Bagh, Rohini, Lajpat Nagar, Pitampura and Rajouri Garden, will down their shutters during the Bandh in protest against the proposed sealing of shops of over 40,000 traders who had submitted affidavits in the Supreme Court to close down their operations by June 30.

Even the busy Connaught Place market would remain closed during the Bandh, CAIT sources said.

In addition, the traders would hold dharnas and protests in various markets during the bandh. The agitating traders also plan to ‘gherao’ the Delhi Assembly on the first day of its session starting tomorrow.

Further, the traders have threatened to go on an indefinite strike from November 2 “if the government fails to give permanent relief to the traders whose shops and commercial establishments are facing the prospect of sealing under the orders of the Supreme Court”.

“All the markets across the Capital would remain closed for 72 hours from October 30 in protest against the sealing drive,” CAIT secretary-general Mr Praveen Khandelwal has said.

Falling under the purview of the sealing drive will be 44,000 shopkeepers, who had submitted affidavits in the court. Besides, a large number of shopkeepers whose units fell under the negative list of items mentioned in the September 7 notification of the Urban Development Ministry also face the threat of sealing of their commercial establishments.

The traders say that despite tall promises, the Centre has failed to give any relief to traders. Hence, they have now decided to fight their own battle. The traders are demanding regularisation of all shops and business establishments in Delhi to provide relief to shopkeepers from the sealing drive.

Meanwhile, Resident Welfare Associations of East Delhi protested against the government’s attitude bending over the traders’ demand to stop sealing.

In a letter to the Monitoring Committee, the RWA has argued that the ability to strike and come on the streets should not determine the facts of the case. The letter also castigated the Chief Minister for “attempting to bring a resolution to defeat the orders of the Supreme Court”.

Meanwhile, hundreds of traders in the leadership of BJP’s national secretary, Mr Vijay Goel staged a march to the resident of the Chief Minister, Ms Sheila Dikshit, and offered flowers with messages of “Get well soon” at the entrance gate.

They also raised slogans “relief or resign” addressing the chief minister. 

New Delhi, October 29
Ahead of the traders’ bandh in the Capital to protest the sealing drive, the Delhi Police today appealed to the citizens to maintain law and order and also resist from damaging public property.

Ensuring that they have taken enough measures to avoid any untoward incidents during the three-day strike, city Police Commissioner Dr K K Paul said citizens should not fall for rumours and assist police in maintaining law and order.

“Public property is your own property. We appeal to you not to damage public property, especially various modes of transport. Please ensure that no inconvenience is created to fellow Delhiites,” Dr Paul said.

The Confederation of All India Traders have called for a three-day bandh starting tomorrow to protest the sealing of commercial establishments operating in residential premises.

A similar bandh by Delhi traders on September 20 witnessed largescale violence claiming five lives and injuring about 100. Public property worth several lakh of rupees were also damaged during the one-day protest then.

New Delhi, October 29
In an effort to ensure adequate security during the winter session of the Legislative Assembly beginning tomorrow, Speaker Ch Prem Singh has directed deployment of security officials at the Secretariat.

The speaker, who reviewed the preparedness and arrangements at the Assembly Secretariat for the ninth session, has restricted the entry of visitors in the LG Gallery of the House and instructed the officers to ensure that no pass for the gallery be issued without his prior approval.

However, those wanting to witness the proceedings of the House can seek prior approval from the Speaker three hours before the commencement of the Assembly session.

The Speaker has instructed the Assembly Secretariat to withdraw and cancel all labels issued for parking purposes for security reasons. Only parking labels issued for vehicles of Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Chief Minister, Ministers of Delhi Government, Leader of Opposition, MPs, MLAs, members of the bureau of legislative studies, HODs or officers of the Delhi Government and the media will be treated as valid and no other vehicles will be allowed entry into the secretariat premises. The increased security arrangements come in the wake of the announcement of the traders and the BJP to ‘gherao’ the Assembly on the opening day of the session tomorrow in protest against the proposed sealing drive of the MCD.

New Delhi, October 29
The Directorate of Education, Delhi Government, today clarified that all government schools would remain open tomorrow.

A spokesman of the government said that all schools would function according to their time schedule.

Refuting media reports that the schools in the Capital will remain closed tomorrow, the Directorate of Education said, “The government has not taken a decision to declare a holiday in government schools on Monday.

The clarification comes in view of the confusion prevailing in this regard due to the traders announcing a three-day ‘Delhi Bandh’ from tomorrow in protest against the MCD’s proposed sealing drive from November 1.

New Delhi, October 29
In the Special Executive Committee meeting held here today, the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) passed a resolution demanding the sealing drive be stopped forthwith by bringing the Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2006 under the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution of India.

The party claimed in the resolution that this would provide a suitable and acceptable solution to the problem.

“The notifications issued on March 28 and September 7 regarding mixed land use saved about five lakh shops owned by the common lower and middle class citizens of Delhi from the sealing axe and the one issued on September 22 allowed one additional floor for commercial establishments,” the resolution said.

“Similarly, the enactment of the Delhi Laws Act not only provided long term relief and time for comprehensive perspective planning to benefit lakhs of common people, but also put in place a bulwark against any unjust displacement and dislocation of lakhs of citizens living in slums and JJ clusters as well as people who earn a livelihood by vending and hawking,” it added.

The party appealed for an urgent and lasting solution to the problem and immediate implementation of Master Plan 2021.

The DPCC president, Mr Ram Babu Sharma appealed to the traders’ community to maintain peace and harmony during the bandh. “The peaceful normal life of Delhi should not be allowed to be disturbed,” he said.

Blaming the previous BJP-led NDA government for the prevailing situation, he alleged that when it (NDA) was in power it refused to bring any changes in the Master Plan due to which the implementation of Master Plan 2001 got delayed.

“If the BJP is interested in working for the welfare of traders, it should first expel its senior leaders who were against giving concession to the general public and small entrepreneurs,” Mr Sharma said.

He also assured the traders that the Congress would make all efforts to ensure that their business activities were not affected in any way. 

New Delhi, October 29
A German delegation led by Dr Michael Freytag, Minister of Urban Development and Environment of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, will meet the Delhi Chief Minister, Ms Sheila Dikshit, tomorrow.

The delegation will explore the scope for co-operation between the Hamburg government and public and private institutions in India in the areas of water and sanitary management, promotion of renewable sources of energy and urban development.

The delegation met several governmental and private sector organisations and signed three MoUs with the Southern Chamber of Commerce in Chennai, Urban Development Corporation in Chennai and Central Leather Research Institute, Chennai.

Ghaziabad, October 29
The claims of the administration for having beefed up the security arrangements for municipal elections were blown to bits as reports of large-scale violence during first day voting for municipal elections were received from Muzzafarnagar, Saharanpur and Ghaziabad. However, heavy voting was also reported from these districts.

Samajwadi Party’s senior leader Muzzafar Ali was killed during stone pelting and firing between the workers of Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Lok Dal while Samajwadi Party’s candidate Rarshid Sadiqqi, Kadir Rana in Muzzafarnagar and dozens of other were injured.

Seven ballot boxes were also looted from Pharana by anti-social elements. Firing and stone pelting were also reported from Kandli. Some clashes were witnessed in Ghaziabad also during voting yesterday.

About 67 per cent votes were cast in Ghaziabad amidst violence. In Pilkhua, 70% voters exercised their right to vote while in Hapur, 59 per cent people voted. In Muradnagar, Garh Mukteshwar and Loni, 70, 73 and 63 per cent votes were cast. In Modinagar, some 64 per cent voters came out to cast their vote.

In Muzzafarnagar, 70 per cent; Maawana (Meerut) 74 per cent; Bagpat 72.5 per cent while Saharanpur and Muzzafarnagar recorded 70 per cent votes each.

Some 974 candidates had contested from 182 seats while 59 candidates had contested for president elections in these districts.

Gurgaon, October 29
A case of harassment meted out by the district’s senior administrative officials to a leading academic institution has come to light here. The matter went up to the level of Haryana Chief Secretary Prem Prashant who took the ‘defaulting’ officials to task and directed to ‘take necessary disciplinary action against them’. It is alleged that as per the direction of Gurgaon Deputy Commissioner R P Bhardwaj, the Sub Divisional Engineer (Survey) (SDE-E), HUDA, Amarjeet Dangi sent the Junior Engineer, Mr Yashwant, to the Institute of Technology and Management (ITM) at Sector 23 to find out some irregularities in the institute on October 26.

The official team ‘performed measurements ostensibly for any violations done by the institution without any notice’, stated the Chief Secretary’s letter addressed to senior official. But in reality, the “building plans for additional constructions were approved by Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) just a few days earlier”, the letter added.

While speaking to ‘The Tribune’, Mr Avdesh Misra, member, governing body of the ITM, alleged that senior officials of the district administration harass the members of management of the institute on one pretext or other to serve their vested interests.

The management complained to the senior political set-up of the state about the working of the district’s senior officials, revealed Mr Misra.

The SDE (E), Mr Dangi has stated in his written explanation that the Deputy Commissioner has pointed out a couple of times that there were many violations in ITM College Building and the department should check the premises of the college immediately for taking necessary action. In compliance of the direction, he had sent the JE for inspection of the ITM’s premises, added Mr Dangi.

The Chief Secretary in his letter mentioned that the “completion certificate for the existing construction has already been granted” and “no notice was served on the institution for any violation by HUDA or Town and Country Planning department” before “raiding” the institute on October 26. 

New Delhi, October 29
Miss Universe Zuleyka Rivera Mendoza took part in an AIDS Awareness Promotion Programme conducted by the YWCA here yesterday.

She applauded the efforts of Delhi-YWCA in spreading awareness about AIDS among the general public.

Dr Lilly George, President of Delhi-YWCA, appreciated Miss Universe for the noble work that she has been carrying out throughout the world.

During the programme, students of the institute gave dance performances and took part in fashion shows. 

New Delhi, October 29
A piquant situation developed at the Tis Hazari courts here with a senior woman judge seeking to withdraw her case because she has no hopes of getting justice.

Additional Sessions Judge Ms Sujata Kohli has sought to withdraw her case, saying she has “no hope of getting justice”. The case dates back to 1994 when lawyers in the city’s Tis Hazari court complex went on strike responding to a call by the trial court’s bar association.

Ms Kohli, who was then an advocate, did not participate in the strike. This apparently did not go down well with the bar members and they allegedly misbehaved with her. She filed a complaint against the bar members accusing them with molestation, among other charges.

However, after 12 years not much progress has been made and only recently, charges have been framed in the case. Even the charges framed are watered down, she claims. While she levelled serious allegations, only ‘lighter’ offences have been framed against the accused, she alleged.

Fed up with the state of affairs, especially with the pace of the case, she has moved an application before the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate. — TNS

Ghaziabad, October 29
Two young men coming after distributing the wedding cards were crushed under the wheels of a rashly driven truck near IAF Chowk in Sahibabad.

The truck driver absconded, abandoning his vehicle after the accident.

The angry crowd damaged the truck. As a result, the traffic was blocked on the busy road for about one hour. The police, which had reached the spot somehow managed to persuade the crowd to disburse. The police have impounded the truck.

Ashok Phacolya, 35, of Gali No. 4 Nand Nagri, Delhi, was to marry his daughter Kavita on November 3. He had gone with his brother-in-law Babloo, 22, employed in Delhi Nagar Nigam.

They had gone to Secunderabad for distribution of wedding cards. Both were on their way back. When they reached Kadheda village near IAF station, a truck loaded with gas cylinders collided with their motorcycle. Ashok was killed on the spot while babloo was seriously injured. People had rushed Ashok to SGTB Hospital in New Delhi where he breathed his last during treatment. As police took some time to come, the livid public damaged the truck and punctured its wheels.

Police SO Satinder Yadav said that the truck driver might have crossed over to Nepal but police are hunting for him, he added.

Bulandshahr, October 29
About a dozen persons were injured in firing and stone pelting in Bhud Mohalla, Bulandshahr when two groups clashed after voting on Saturday evening. When some people tried to abduct the husband of a candidate, it almost caused a communal clash, but police intervened in time to avert the crisis.

About a dozen people were injured in stone pelting when in Gulawatti, supporters of nominated candidates came to blows on the issue of chairmanship. Two candidates for chairmanship in Ward No. 4, Mohala Nai Abadi in Kotwali area, belong to different communities. There was tension in their respective camps. — OC

New Delhi, October 29
After some cool and pleasant weather last week, there was a rise in mercury in the Capital today with a high level of humidity.

The decreasing influence of the Easterlies, which had last week brought a drop in mercury to as low as 28 degree Celsius, today led to a rise in maximum temperature to 31 degrees C, from the yesterday’s 30 degrees C.

The minimum temperature also rose to 18 degree C, from the yesterday’s 17 degrees C. Also, slightly humid conditions were witnessed following the humidity levels touching 90 per cent.

The return to warm and slightly humid conditions in Delhi comes after two weeks of cool weather brought about by a fresh western disturbance and, in the subsequent week, a fresh easterly wave.

The coming days could witness the maximum temperature hover around the 30 degree C mark, though there could be a slight drop in the night temperature to 15 degrees C on Thursday.

Beginning with a modest collection of 49 books authored by Dr Ikeda, the corner is expected to grow into a nodal point for all resolutions and peace activism.

A neo-tantrik journey

The Art Alive Gallery and the Alliance Francaise de Delhi are presenting “Geometric Abstractions”, a neo-tantrik journey with the recent works of noted abstract painter, Akkitham Narayanan at the Galerie Romain Rolland on the Francaise premises from October 27 to November 4.

Critics have hailed Akkitham as an artist who manages to meticulously blend triangles and rectangles to produce a musical and emotive touch.

‘Paper Flute’

Gallery Espace here is also presenting a group show of some of the well-known contemporary artists from October 28 to November 10 at the New Friends Colony Community Centre here.

Called the “Paper Flute”, the exhibition will have on view works of artists like Alex Mathew, Manisha Gera Baswani, Sagar Bhowmick and Tanmoy Samanta among others.

Exhibition of 30 contemporary painters

The MEC Art Gallery here is showcasing the works of some of the contemporary artists on its premises in Khan Market from October 28 to November 11.

Called “By a construction site”, the exhibition will present works of 30 contemporary painters working with a variety of painting medium and each exhibit reflecting the individual style of the painter.

The title of the exhibition reflects the process of work employed by the painter, a kind of construction that goes on in the artist’s space using a combined construction of technique and medium.

A festival of comedy films

The Embassy of France and the Alliance Francaise de Delhi in collaboration with the Film Society of India is screening eight outstanding French films under the banner of “Ha ha ha, a festival of comedy films” at the Alliance Auditorium in Lodhi Estate from October 27 to November 4.

A unique showcase of bootleg concepts

Grasshoppers, a Delhi-based marketing communications agency is organizing Ourchive, a unique showcase of bootleg concepts. The exhibition is scheduled for November 1, 2006 at Urban Pind, Greater Kailash 1.

Ourchive will showcase socially relevant issues and some panels which will portray advertising ‘khichdi’.

Speaking about the event, Mr Arjun Banerjee, CEO, Grasshoppers said, “Ourchive is our way of saying that we care too. Through this exhibition, we try to showcase the socially active side of advertising which some feel ceases to exist. Ourchive brings forth the creative blend of mind that dwells within us –the Grasshoppers.”