New Delhi, October 15
The family of 14-year-old Aaquib Siddiki, who was taken to Safdarjung Hospital's emergency twice since October 13 night and died this morning, alleges that Aaquib was not cared properly in the casualty and sent back home without medical investigations. Also, the deceased's blood report conducted outside prior to his being taken to the hospital's casualty was not given to the aggrived relatives while the body was handed over, maintained the family.

The boy, a student of class eight of Tughlaqabad Government Secondary School, was down with high fever on October 11. The family residing in house number 1734 of Sangam Vihar's K block took him to a local doctor who carried out the blood tests and suspecting him to be a dengue positive case, he referred him to Safdarjung Hospital.

"We took our son to the local doctor who after checking him, suggested blood tests. Seeing the reports on October 12, he told our child was an emergency case. He told us to take him to the Safdarjung Hospital. The next day, he was feeling a little better, but when his condition deteriorated at night, we rushed him to Safdarjung's emergency, but the next morning he was sent home without proper medication. A day after, his condition worsened as his platelet count stayed around 57,000. We again rushed him to the casualty where the doctors still didn't carry proper tests and he died this morning," Aaquib's grandfather Mohanmmad Liyaqat Siddiki said.

Accusing the hospital staff of negligence, he added that in the emergency, he was kept till morning but he was not given the right treatment. "They tried to hide the fact that he was suffering from dengue so that they do not face the hassle of further investigations. When we asked for the earlier reports, they refused and gave a death slip," he alleged.

While the hospital authorities couldn't confirm the death, the locals seemed to be irked with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi folowing the death of Aaquib.

"The area is quite unhygienic and we hardly get safe drinking water here. Officials from the MCD are hardly seen. The authorities d not pay attention to our needs," said a local resident Ali.

Whether the boy succumed to dengue fever or to some other disaese, his death has once again raised concern over the lack of adequate checking and monitoring measures by the authorities, especially in the unauthorisied colonies where the lanes and the area around are unimaginably crowded and unfit for human survival.

Noida, October 15
While Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati was addressing people at the Rashtriya Dalit Prerna Sthal in Central Park at Noida's Sector 95 yesterday, the police allegedly lathicharged a group of farmers and Dalit women outside the venue.

The farmers, who had come from different districts of the state, wanted to present a memorandum to the Chief Minister, but the police stopped them outside the park.

While Mayawati was reading out a speech about her dream projects for the Dalits, farmer leader Manveer Bhatti reached the park along with hundreds of farmers and Dalit women from Noida, Greater Noida and other places of the district.

The group, which was not carrying any banner or flag of any political party, was stopped by SP (city) Anant Dev Tiwari. Later, following an altercation, the police allegedly lathicharged them. They were then whisked away from the spot and let off a couple of kilometres away.

Bhatti was beaten by Tiwari and the women were manhandled by the police, the farmers alleged. The policemen even tore some farmers' clothes, they claimed.

"The farmers wanted to peacefully present a memorandum to the CM. There was no need for the police to show such highhandedness," said Bhatti. 

New Delhi, October 15
Terming the decision of the Delhi government to constitute the Water Regulatory Commission (WRC) a conspiracy, the BJP today alleged that after the formation of the commission, the government would privatise the water supply.

The intention of the government is not good. It is surreptitiously heading towards privatising the water supply and this would adversely affect the interests of the people, the party said.

"Before taking the decision to constitute the WRC, the government should have invited objections and suggestions from the people. In a democratic system, the opinion of the people is of prime importance," said some party leaders.

"People of Delhi are already facing grave consequences of the privatisation of power. Even after paying higher prices, they have to put up with irregular power supply. They are feeling cheated. It is certain that after the formation of the WRC, Delhi will face many difficulties. The bureaucracy will protect the interests of the government companies supplying water instead of the people, as has been seen in the case of power," the leaders added.

As a pilot project, the government has privatised the water supply to Malviya Nagar, Vasant Vihar and Nangloi. Depending on its success, the water supply to whole of south Delhi will be privatised, after which the project will cover entire Delhi.

"The billing system has already been privatised, and the people are already facing problems due to this. The bills that they are being served with are ten times higher than the normal bills. When the harassed people contact the officers concerned, they are told to first pay the bill and then complain about it," the leaders alleged.

New Delhi, October 15
With the disagreement on certain issues, the Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi-UK) distanced itself from the Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi) headed by Paramjeet Singh Sarna. A few weeks ago, they had an alliance to contest the elections together, sources said.

SAD Delhi-UK had the alliance with the condition that the gurdwara committee will implement the sixth pay commission report in schools, transparency in funds of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), returns of funds taken from school accounts, better infrastructure and faculty in schools and commissioning of Bala Sahib Hospital.

SAD Delhi-UK president Jasjit Singh said that Sarna's party spokesperson Harvinder Kaur had announced "we will work together to serve the community and eliminate corruption. Besides, the demands of sewadars will be fulfilled." But nothing has been done so far.

Jasjit Singh said that DSGMC president Paramjeet Singh Sarna refused to implement all these conditions, that was why he had distanced himself from Sarna's party.

Now Delhi-UK and Kendriya Guru Singh Sabha (Delhi) will contest election of gurdwara committee together on all the 46 seats.

Jasjit said that he had written a letter to Lieutenant-Governor Tejindra Khanna that all the powers of gurdwara committee should be withdrawn from Sarna as the term of the committee is over. Election should be declared as soon as possible so that new committee can be formed to manage gurdwaras.

When Sarna was asked for the reason of break-up in the alliance, he said, "I had not called him for any alliance. Jasjit came to me personally and said that he would work for the gurdwara committee. Now if he is going, I have no regret."

With the entire city gripped by the festival fervour, it is a golden time for the thousands of 'mehndi wallahs'. They are doing brisk business, sitting in every corner of the market area, big and small.

The money they make during the two days ahead of Karva Chauth is equal to their annual income. Most of them hail from Rajasthan and Bihar.

New Delhi, October 15
A four-year-old boy was electrocuted at the Ghadoli Extension area of east Delhi this morning. The incident was reported around 9.30 am. The victim has been identified as Siddharth.

"Siddharth was playing on the roof of his house when he came into the contact of a high-tension wire passing merely three feet above the roof. His parents rushed to him after hearing his cries for help, but by the time they could rescue him, he had died," said a police official.

Siddharth's father Krishan Kumar has alleged that he died due to the negligence of the electricity department which did not raise the wires despite several complaints.

However, according to a police official, illegal construction in the house brought the wires dangerously close to the roof. 

New Delhi, October 15
Karva Chauth, a festival which revives the sacrosanct vows sorrounding Indian marriages and commonly celebrated in the northen part of the country, was rightly observed with a unique ceremony marked by a health mela that promoted safe sex for HIV-AIDS prevention.

With changing times, the celebrations have seen a gradual change. Not only married women and dedicated husbands observe the fast, teenage girls and their boyfriends also follow the wave.

On the occasion, an HIV-prevention message was also released, called the ABC of HIV Prevention - where 'A' stands for abstinence (no-premarital sex), 'B' for being faithful to your partner and 'C' for use of condoms.

The event marked a good participation of over 500 women from various segments of society and there were special art shows such as nail art. It was arranged for the participants, comprising young women draped in colourful attires and hands with inticate henna designs and eye-catching bangles. Besides, there was also a special screening of the movie, Rascal.

The mela, organised by the Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI), World Fellowship of Religions with Health Department of the Delhi government, Muncipal Corporation of Delhi and New Delhi Municipal Council, is on till October 23. 

New Delhi, October 15
Power-packed with remarkable performances, "Andha Yug" opened up to a full house today. The spectacular presentation by eminent theatre personality Bhanu Bharati retells the story from the epic pages of Mahabharata.

Touted as the biggest theatre production in the Capital so far, the play is based on one of the most famous works by Padmashree award winning playwright Dharamvir Bharati. Played out in front of a sold-out crowd here this evening, the play talks about the age-old question of war and its worthlessness viewed through the eyes of a few surviving members of the Pandava-Kaurava clan.

Also present among 600 spectators today was Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. Such has been the buzz about the play over the last few months that the tickets had already been sold out weeks before. Organisers said that due to the overwhelming response, it was decided to continue the play screening for three more days.

Speaking to The Tribune, Bharti said that even though this epic play has been done numerous times before, his attempt this time had a visionary purpose of the play since the start.

"The play has mostly been looked upon as an "anti-war" play. But this time around, it will delve deeper into the question of existence of wars. Why they plague the minds and how characters stand the test of humanity in the wake of a war," he said.

"The story is about the choices the characters made. While some sought every means to win the war and their pride, others had an opportunity to take a higher path. But what dilemmas they went through, is not known to many. Moreover, the play will definitely attract younger crowds which are very important. This is the story, everyone must know," he added.

The historic play is being staged against the majestic ruins of Feroz Shah Kotla Fort. Being supported by the Sahitya Kala Academy, the play boasts of an impressive starcast.

Besides the screenplay, Bharti has added a prologue and an epilogue to the play. The voice-over is being done by actor Om Puri. Participating in the play will be veteran theatre personalities such as Mohan Maharishi as Dhritarashtra, Uttara Baokar as Gandhari, noted TV and Bollywood actor Zakir Hussain as Sanjay, Govind Pandey as Kripacharya, Teekam Joshi as Ashwathama, Ravi Jhankal as Vidhur, Danish Iqbal as Kritavarma, Ravi Jhankal as Yachak, Kuldeep Sarren and Amitabh Srivastava both as praharis and Kumud Mishra as mute soldier.