New Delhi, January 12
Though it may not be a barometer to test the popularity of any candidate for the forthcoming elections to the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) on January 27, visitors at various gurdwaras in the Capital want more facilities for pilgrims, better education and health facilities for the community.

The devout among the Sikhs are generous. They collectively offer crores of rupees and demand that the money be used to educate the children and keep the historic shrines in top shape.

The Tribune talked to a cross-section of people. Some are unhappy with the ruling Sarna brothers - Paramjit Singh and Harvinder Singh - others seem to opt for status quo and want Paramjit Singh Sarna to continue. The three historic gurdwaras - Rakab Ganj, Bangla Sahib and Sheesh Ganj - have the highest footfall of the devout from across the globe.

Prabhjit Singh, a resident of Kilokari village near Hari Nagar Ashram, said that the community offers money to gurdwara for its maintenance and welfare of the community. "This welfare is not being done correctly," he said.

The educational standard of Guru Harikishan Public Schools being managed by the DSGMC has dropped. There was a time when these schools were considered as one of the best schools in the city, but now people, even Sikhs, prefer other schools for their children.

"At Bangla Sahib Gurdwara where the money used to make gold-plated walls could have been used on education and the dispensaries," Prabhjit Singh added.

Mahinder Singh, a senior citizen, who resides at Patel Nagar, said tenure of a committee is just two years. But the Delhi government intervened to get Paramjit Singh Sarna an extension".

But views can differ. At Rakab Ganj, where the DSGMC has its office, opinions vary and favour Sarna. Mandeep Singh, from Toronto, Canada, says "My interest is only that our shrines should be in top shape, the facilities should be upgraded periodically and that is happening." He suggested total de-linking of Punjab-based political parties from Sikh affairs in Delhi. "Most of the Sikhs in the national Capital are traders and are descendants of refugees from West Pakistan while that is not the case in Punjab where most are farming landlords. There is no common thought".

Jasvinder Singh, a resident of Khayala village who often visits Bangla Sahib, says there should be no political interference. "The DSGMC president perates undemocratically" sarai - living place for out-station devotees - should be free of cost but at Bala Sahib there is a charge levied which is beyond the pocket of the common man.

New Delhi, January 12
BJP Delhi Pradesh president Vijender Gupta today met the aggrieved family of the gangrape victim during the last ritual performed in Balia and announced that a municipal corporation school will be named after her.

He handed a cheque for Rs 5 lakh to the family and read out the condolence message of the party national president, Nitin Gadkari, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and national general secretary organisation Ramlal. He said that the party has been pushing for death penalty for the six accused. "The party wants that all the six accused should be served with capital punishment so that the case comes as a deterrent to others who commit such crime. The party will honour victim's parents on the occasion of naming the school," said Gupta while assuring the victim's family of best legal help if need be.

In the letter that he handed over to the family, Swaraj has demanded the Central Urban Development Minister Kamalnath to provide an MIG flat in Delhi to the victim's family members. The Centre has started a positive action on this letter, he said.

New Delhi, January 12
A 21-year-old BTech student was arrested for allegedly trying to rape a 15-year-old girl at Alipur in outer Delhi.

The accused has been identified as Nitesh Kumar, who is a neighbour of the victim. According to the police official, the accused allegedly went to her house when she was alone, held her hostage and attempted to rape her. The incident was reported last evening.

The incident came to light when the neighbours heard the girl shouting for help. They ran to her rescue. Kumar was cornered and beaten up by them.

One of the girl's neighbours called the police. Kumar was handed over to the police.

In another incident, a 24-year-old man was arrested for allegedly molesting a six-year-old girl in Seelampur, northeast Delhi.

The accused, Wasim, abducted the girl from outside her house, where she was playing with her friends. The victim started shouting for help and was rescued by neighbours.

He was handed over to the police.

A 20-year-old man was arrested for allegedly molesting a girl in a busy market. The incident was reported from the Defence Colony market, south Delhi.

The victim was out with her friends for dinner, when the incident happened. The victim raised the alarm and the security personnel on duty caught the accused.

New Delhi, January 12
During the National Youth Day celebration, organised today at Ramakrishna Mission here to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, advisor to the Prime Minister on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovations and a former chairperson of the National Knowledge Commission Sam Pitroda exhorted the next generation to gear up for challenges in life on the lines of the celebrated Indian youth leader Vivekananda as reflected in his famous quote "change is the nature of life. But challenge is the aim of life".

The occasion, on which representatives of the youth section shared their views about the crucial role that the youngsters can play in nation building, was also marked by motivational speeches by sporting heroes - Asian and Commonwealth Games gold medallist boxer Akhil Kumar and ace shooter Abvhinav Bindra, who is the first Indian to bag an individual gold medal in the Olympics.

Prizes were given away to the winners of the All India GenNext Leader Discovery Contest in essay writing followed by felicitation of V. Srinivas and S. Jagannathan, who was the 10th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India.