LEST WE FORGET
He went back from leave to die a hero’s death
Abhay Jain

Gurgaon, November 21
The mortal remains of Capt Umang Bhardwaj were consigned to the flames with state honours at his native Gaudoli village near here last evening. His elder brother, Maj Rakesh Bhardwaj, who is posted in the National Security Guard (NSG) contingent at Manesar, lit the funeral pyre.

Capt Umang Bhardwaj, who was commissioned as an officer about three years back, left home after a brief holiday on Saturday, only to be brought back in a coffin. No wonder that the family is devastated. He was just 25.

Their son made the supreme sacrifice on the night of November 18 while leading an operation against Pakistan-backed militants who were trying to infiltrate the Rajouri-Poonch sector near the Line of Control in the trouble-torn Jammu and Kashmir.

According to an official of his 7 Jat Battalion, Capt Bhardwaj, after getting a tip-off that militants would try to sneak into the Valley around midnight of November 18, led an assault along with members of his team. In the bloody encounter, the hero liquidated six of the militants on the spot. The seventh and the final militant of the group tried to play hide and seek, but was eventually shot down in an encounter that lasted till the early hours of the next morning. During the operation, a volley of bullets hit the captain, wounding him in the chest and thigh. He succumbed on November 19. Three of his team members are still in the hospital.

After the funeral last evening, an emotion-choked Maj Rakesh Bhardwaj said that in a full-fledged conventional war, the Indian forces were capable of overwhelming the Pakistani Army in a few days’ time. But the country was facing a low-intensity proxy war from across the border. It was difficult to crush a menace like this once and for all.

Representatives of the Chief of Army Staff, the Governor of Haryana and the Chief Minister paid floral tributes to Capt Bhardwaj.

Several prominent residents of the city were present on the occasion. They raised anti-Pakistan slogans. Significantly, Capt Bhardwaj hails from a family of ex-servicemen. Capt Bhardwaj’s father was a colonel when he took premature retirement.

A graduate from the University of Delhi, he did a Business and Management course from Wigan and Leigh in England. He was selected at the National Defence Academy at the age of 19, but couldn’t join due to his mother’s resistance.

INTER-STATE FARMERS' DISPUTE
Can the bloody ritual cease?
Pradeep Sharma
Tribune News Service

Panipat, November 21
Bloody clashes between the farmers of UP and Haryana could erupt again following the failure of the authorities to resolve the border land dispute.

Now, as a last-ditch effort to resolve the vexed issue, a meeting of middle-rung officials of Panipat district in Haryana and Muzaffarnagar district in UP has been convened tomorrow at Bapoli. The SDM, Samalkha, and the SDM, Kairana, will lead their respective teams to find an amicable solution to the dispute.

The bloody land disputes between the farmers of Panipat and Muzaffarnagar districts are becoming an annual ritual. The Yamuna is to be blamed for this, as it changes its course every year, submerging acres of land in either Panipat or Muzaffarnagar district. The changing contours of the area lead to land disputes and subsequent flare-ups. The problem has persisted for several years, defying solution and creating a serious law and order situation.

The current dispute is between the farmers of Khojipur in Haryana and Tanda in UP. Every year the two sides trade charges over sowing and harvesting of crops. Cases and counter-cases are registered on both sides of the border, in Bapoli (Haryana) and Chapproli (UP).

Efforts by the authorities to bring the rivals to the negotiation table have failed. How the middle-rung officials will resolve the issue at tomorrow’s meeting remains to be seen.

Farmers have alleged that in the absence of any initiative and long-term settlement, the issue had become a “sensitive one” with bloody clashes becoming a recurring phenomenon.

Since Muzaffarnagar is a pocket borough of illegal arms, anti-social elements also jump into the fray, creating a serious law and order problem, as was the case last year. Despite this, the authorities seem to be oblivious of the need to check the flare-ups.

The farmers are, however, convinced that a lasting negotiated settlement is the only way out of the dispute. Will the authorities on both sides seize the initiative and allow the farmers on both sides to cultivate in peace?

Pahelwan’s killing may fuel gang war
Parmindar Singh

Ghaziabad, November 21
The murder on Wednesday of history-sheeter Inder Pahelwan is expected to fuel the gang war in Ghaziabad, feels the district police. Rajya Sabha MP D P Yadav and his nephew, Jatinder Yadav, are among those named as suspects in the FIR lodged by Inder’s brother-in-law.

A dreaded criminal, Inder Pahelwan was shot dead by three assailants in Vijay Nagar. Inder’s driver Bulloo was wounded in the foot.

With Pahelwan’s family naming Jatinder Yadav and D P Yadav in the FIR, the two sides are likely to come into direct conflict.

Inder’s brother-in-law and former councillor Sat Pal Yadav lodged the FIR in Vijay Nagar police station in which he has accused D P Yadav, MP, of murdering Inder Pahelwan. DP’s nephew Jatinder Yadav of Noida, Wazirpur’s Rakambir Singh and another person have been also named in the complaint.

On the basis of the FIR, the police have also lodged a case against D P Yadav for allegedly planning Pehelwan’s murder.

Both the parties have scores to settle. Six months ago on May 27 assailants had barged into DP Yadav’s house and gunned down dreaded criminal and Rashtriya Parvartan Dal leader Parmanand Yadav. Pahelwan and his brother-in-law were then named as prime suspects in the FIR.

A month prior to that, on April 23, there was another attack on Parmanand in Vijay Nagar. Though Parmanand survived, a three-wheeler driver Ashok had lost his life. A month earlier Sat Pal Yadav and Pahelwan had been released from jail on bail. Parmanand was considered to be very close to D P Yadav.

Earlier, one Subhash of Wajidpur had died on the Vijay Nagar by-pass in mysterious circumstances. Inder, who was very close to Subhash, had suspected Parmanand of having a hand in the murder.

On a number of occasions the two groups had also clashed over one land dispute or the other. Both consider the other as their arch enemy.

Now, with Sat Pal Yadav, brother-in-law of Inder Pahelwan, naming D P Yadav and his nephew in the FIR, the war of attrition between the two groups is likely to exacerbate.

BULANDSHAHR
Cops vie with each other to challan criminals
Our Correspondent

Noida, November 21
In a curious game of one-upmanship, sub-inspectors in-charge of all police stations in Bulandshahr are vying with each other to detain and challan the maximum number of criminals and bad characters with suspicious background.

Till Wednesday over 200 persons had been challaned under the Goonda Act. The cops have gone into overdrive possibly because of the deteriorating law and order situation in the district. Police official seem to feel that the crackdown will have a salutary effect on bad characters in the area and help improve the law and order situation. Many among these 200 persons had been challaned under the Goonda Act earlier also.

On an average, the Bulandshahr police are proceeding against 60 shady characters under the Goonda Act daily. The new Senior Superintendent of Police, Mr Alok Sharma, who assumed charge three days ago, is in an aggressive mode and wants to take a tough line against the known bad characters and criminals of the district. “If the police keeps the criminals on their toes and worried about themselves, they will not be able to think of committing a crime”, he says.

“Goonda Act is not only meant for the criminals but also takes care of those who create terror in the society with their daredevil acts. They try to extract benefit by creating terror among the people”, he explained.

Even through these people may not be apparently violating any law, but the police have to act in the interest of the common man, said SSP Sharma.

The police have challaned over two hundred people in the last four days.

The police department is also sifting and screening the district’s record of criminals and bad characters, so that some action may be initiated against them under the Gangster or Goonda Act. The district police is also correcting and updating its crime record in view of the zonal police meet next week.

DUTA set to intensify nationwide struggle
Our Correspondent

New Delhi, November 21
The Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) adopted a resolution at its General Body Meeting (GBM) today, reiterating its vehement opposition to the UGC proposal for appointing teachers on contract. The GBM had a relatively low attendance, around 270 teachers, which DUTA Secretary R.S.Dahiya attributed to the approaching Academic Council elections.

The resolution highlights the need for a nationwide struggle and also acknowledges the importance of involving other stakeholders such as students, researchers and non-teaching staff.

The DUTA is already planning an all India convention of teachers in January 2003 and has been inviting teachers’ association from all over the country to participate in it. The main objective of the national convention is to draw up a national agenda against “the dubious policies of the government towards higher education.” It is expecting the participation of teachers in large numbers from all over the country and is hoping that the convention will flag off an intense national struggle.

The resolution came in the wake of the UGC proposal on contractual appointments, mooted at a meeting on October 31. The system of contractual appointments has been criticised on various counts, but mainly on the ground of managerial and political manipulation. The DUTA has also severely criticised the government “for attempting to delink the colleges from the university,” and “for going back on several promises pertaining to teachers’ service conditions”.

Immediately the DUTA is organising a seminar on November 23 at the JNU City Center on Ferozeshah Road to focus on “higher education vis-à-vis government policies,” which will be attended by UGC Prof. Arun Nigavekar. The DUTA is also planning to give the government a chance to articulate its views at the seminar, by inviting MHRD Secretary S.K. Tripathi. Mr. Dahiya said: “The UGC Chairman will face an open house and will be required to answer the questions of the indignant teachers.”

Crime against eves touches new high in Meerut range
Our Correspondent

Meerut, November 21
While the rape of a student of Maulana Azad Medical College on the campus is rocking the national Capital these days, it is learnt that incidents of rape and crime against women have been on the rise in the districts of Meerut range too as compared to last year. Bulandshahr district tops in such crimes. Nine of the rape accused this year in Meerut district are roaming scot-free. In Meerut alone, 24 cases of rape were registered last year. Twenty-nine cases have been registered till November 15 this year.

The latest instance is the daring dacoity-cum-rape in which a woman and her daughter were raped by assailants. Though senior officials admitted this in a conversation with the ‘NCR Tribune’ and even the accused have confessed to their involvement, the case may not reach anywhere as the victims have not mentioned about rape in their FIR.

With this, a total of 173 cases under Section B-54 of the IPC (outraging the modesty of a woman) were registered from January 1 to November 15 this year in the range in which charge sheets were prepared.

COMMUNITY

IN PARLIAMENT
Rly vigilance dept takes steps to
curb illegal activities
Tribune News Service

It was also pointed out that there are 1,7718 criminal cases pending in the Delhi High Court as on October 31, 2001. The High Courts have been requested to implement the recommendations of the Malimath Committee to streamline procedure, which will, inter-alia expedite disposal of pending cases.

The rattling truth about Shastri Nagar and its houses
Jeevna Bhinder

New Delhi, November 21
Once an Urdu poet wrote what has come to be accepted as a universal truth, “Kaun Jaaye Per Dilli Ki Gallian Chod Kar?” (Who would like to leave Delhi?) Some years back, Delhi was a city of gardens. The air was fresh and fragrant. But now, Delhi enjoys the notoriety of being one of the most populated and polluted cities of the world.

Shastri Nagar, a residential area with lakhs of population in North Delhi, is facing several problems. It is surrounded by industrial areas like Wazirpur and Tri Nagar. All efforts to improve the condition of the civic amenities and air quality so far have been futile. Residents lament that the civic authorities have done little to address their grievances.

Hundreds of factories in the area are perhaps the biggest cause of inconvenience for the residents who have invested their lives’ earnings in building or buying houses here. These factories are running day and night without any break, contributing to the increasing environmental pollution. The thunderous noise produced by these units is always a threat to the houses, which rattle as if during an earthquake all the time. School-going children are the worst victims of this situation. Their studies suffer because of the high decibel sound.

The sprawling and bustling colony, named after former Prime Minister late Lal Bahadur Shastri, is said to be a victim of political differences among local leaders. A glaring example of this phenomenon is the work of the Metro station, which is in progress these days. Two stations are being built on the corners of this area. One has been named Vivekanand Puri Station and and the other Tri Nagar Station. None of them has been named after the great soul, Lal Bahadur Shastri. Mr Ashok Gupta, guardian of the Youth Aggarwal Association, demanded changes in these names to Shastri Nagar Station and Aggrasen Station. He said if needed, they would resort to a protest to make the authorities listen.

According to the residents, another headache is the menace of stray cattle. Cattle-owners often leave their animals outside to roam about and litter the lanes with dung. Parents are scared of letting their children outside to play because of the fear of accidents. They cannot be blamed as accidents are a common thing in the area.

The Bhartiya Social Welfare Society demanded improvement in the condition of DDA parks in the area. It has reportedly written “thousands of letters” to the officers, who never forget to make promises but always forget about them later. Necessary funds had been sanctioned, but the problems remain. It is alleged that none of the gardeners appointed to tend the parks is doing his duty well. Some of them don’t even turn up for duty for many days, with the result that the parks are going from bad to worse.

The quality of water supplied in the area is also a cause of worry, Mr Gupta said. Not only that water is being supplied at low pressure for only three hours daily, it is alleged to be impure, causing many diseases like malaria and cholera. Mr Gupta has asked Lt-Governor Vijai Kapoor and Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit to find a solution to the problems being faced by Shastri Nagar residents.

Train passengers from Sonepat have
a harrowing time
R. D. Sapra

Sonepat, November 21
Late running of not only long-distance but also suburban trains has become a routine on the Delhi-Ambala-Kalka (DUK) section of the Northern Railway. Moreover, the action of the controller in holding up suburban trains at the wayside stations to allow long-distance mail and express trains, including the superfast and Shatabadi trains, has become the subject of criticism among government servants, school teachers and students who commute from here daily.

Most of the suburban trains originate either from Delhi or Panipat and some from Kurukshetra and Ambala. Yet they usually run behind schedule by more than 30 minutes, stranding thousands of passengers who commute to Delhi and Panipat. These commuters face action for reaching late in their offices or schools in Delhi.

A large number of passengers have been facing immense hardships for the last three years owing to the change of racks of 1 DPM and 4 DPM passenger trains by the railways without any reason.

The commuters point out that the railways had replaced the racks of these trains by ordinary racks, which resulted in delays in the journey of these trains between Delhi and Sonepat, a distance of only 48 km.

The 1 DPM leaves Delhi around 12.50 pm and Subzimandi at 1.10 pm for Panipat. But it covers a distance of 48 km between Delhi and Sonepat in about two hours instead of one hour. It reaches Sonepat around 3 pm instead of its arrival time of 2.10 pm.

On November 20, this train reached Subzimandi around 1.45 pm instead of 1 pm and it was held up at Narela railway station to allow the Bhatinda-Delhi Intercity

Express and the Amritsar-bound superfast train to pass. Finally, this train reached Sonepat around 3.20 pm instead of 2.10 pm. Some commuters alleged that the replacement of the racks of this train has resulted in more running time.

The extension of the Flying Mail up to Darbhanga in Bihar has proved a curse for the passengers here as this train never runs on schedule. This train always run behind schedule by three to nine hours and the long-distance passengers remain stranded at the railway stations for hours together.

The coaches of this train are always empty as passengers prefer to board other trains to reach their destination. According to many passengers, the railways has been suffering a huge loss of revenue on account of the late running of this train.

Non-stoppage of the Delhi-Bhatinda Intercity Express and the Amritsar-bound Superfast Express at Subzimandi is causing hardships to the passengers in the wake of the late running of the 467 UP Flying Mail bound for Amritsar as they have to reach New Delhi to board them. It is interesting to note that the Delhi-Bhatinda Intercity Express stops at Ganaur railway station but it has no stoppage at Subzimandi.

Between 20,000 and 30,000 commuters travel between Sonepat and Delhi daily. They have to undergo an ordeal to reach their destinations. There are half a dozen trains linking Delhi with Sonepat and Panipat. The trains are generally overcrowded but to make things worse, the authorities cut down the number of coaches frequently forcing the passengers to huddle themselves into any available space in the bogies.

The actual problem, however, is of the number of seats. Representations made to increase the number of second class bogies have been ignored. Provisions of more bogies and separate bogies for milk vendors as well as women passengers would ease the situation.

Many passengers said that they could not remember a single day when they get a seat in the suburban and Delhi-bound Jhelum Express trains. The recent visit of Railway Minister Nitish Kumar to Sonepat has yielded little result in this respect as he declined to implement the suggestions made by the passengers.

FOLLOW-UP
No breakthrough in MAMC assault case
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 21
Almost a week after a fourth-year student of Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) was raped in broad daylight in Khooni Darwaza, the police are yet to arrest the suspect, named as Rahul.

Even the victim has not recorded her statement so far and is yet to provide any information about the suspect to the police.

Meanwhile, a few political leaders today met Delhi Police Commissioner R. S. Gupta at the police headquarters and urged the police to take speedy action against the culprits involved in the crime.

Mr Subhash Chopra, president of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee, Mr Sajjan Kumar, former MP, Mr Ram Babu Sharma, Leader of the House and member of Standing Committee in the MCD, met the Commissioner and expressed their concern about the spate of crimes against women in the city. However, the police maintained that they are on their work and still working on the clues to trace the suspect. On the other hand, students from Delhi University and JNUmet the students of MAMC and discussed their future course of action to press the authorities and the faculty to meet their demands. The students are planning to organise a dharna in DU tomorrow and a torch rally in the evening to condemn the incident and to demand adequate security inside the campus to restore confidence among the student fraternity.

The Maulana Azad Medical College Old Students Association also held a meeting with the students and charted out plans as to what kind of security they would need to avoid any such incidents and to ward off unwanted elements from the campus.

Meanwhile, Delhi Health Minister Ashok Kumar Walia also agreed to visit the college and reassure them of all necessary arrangements.

‘Sahni violated maryada at Prakash Utsav’
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 21
Mr Harinder Pal Singh, member of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) and a leading member of the Sikh community here today, released a copy of the letter written to the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, expressing his anguish over some lapses in following the code of conduct (maryada) at the Prakash Utsav celebrations of Guru Nank Dev at the PMs residence on November 19.

While welcoming the initiative of the Prime Minister in celebrating the Prakash Utsav at his residence along with the Sikh Sangat, Mr Singh regretted that while every one was required to squat on the floor in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib, it was observed that many dignitaries, including Mr Vikramjit Singh Sahni were sitting on a Takth Posh (Divan) with their legs dangling. This was a clear violation of the code of conduct. Mr Singh said that this act had hurt the sentiments of the community and strong protests had been lodged from all quarters. He demanded an apology from Mr Sahni. 

Maken opens Raja Garden subway
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 21
Delhi Tourism Minister Ajay Maken inaugurated the subway at Raja Garden flyover on Wednesday.

The subway, which is 63.5 metres, has been constructed using precast architectural units and is designed with a view to make it aesthetically pleasing architectural shape. It is constructed under the Raja Garden flyover, which is one of the longest flyover in Delhi on the intersection by Ring Road and Najafgarh Road at Raja Garden.

By the side of this, a district centre under construction along the Ring Road on its western side, which will generate lot of pedestrian traffic requiring crossing of slip road on either side of the flyover.

Speaking on the occasion, Maken complemented the efforts made by the Delhi Tourism in construction of flyovers and underlined the importance of subways on the Ring Road in Delhi, where lot of accidents happen to the pedestrians due to rash driving.

He also appreciated the construction of the user-friendly subway for Raja Garden flyover for smooth flow of pedestrian traffic causing least obstruction to the traffic.

Romesh Sabharwal, Chairman, Delhi Tourism, Rajeev Talwar, MD and CE, Delhi Tourism and Sunita Maggo, Area Councillor, were present at the inauguration.

NCR BRIEFS
Newly-wed ‘hung’ from ceiling fan
Our Correspondent

Noida, November 21
A newly-married woman was hanged to death for bringing insufficient dowry in Sector 55 here. Three persons, including the deceased's husband, have been named in the FIR.

According to the police, Jatinder Singh of Ram Vihar, Sector 30, Noida, had married his daughter, Rubble, to a youth living in D-Block of Sector 55 two years ago. Though Jatinder Singh had given a decent dowry to his daughter, her in-laws had demanded Rs 5 lakh in cash within six months of the marriage. His daughter was allegedly tortured for not meeting this demand. According to the police, last night a noose was placed around her neck and she was hung from the ceiling fan. The family of the young housewife have lodged a written complaint in the police station. The police are looking for the husband and his parents, who are absconding.

Dance Carnival

Faridabad: The 16th State Women Folk Dance Carnival named as ‘Jhankar – 2002’ will be held at the auditorium of the Modern School, Sector-17 here on November 23 and 24. According to the school Principal Mrs Neelima Jain, the programme would be inaugurated by Ms Nalini and Ms Kanalini, eminent kathak dancers, at 4 pm on November 23. She said that the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anil Malik, would be Chief Guest at prize giving ceremony on November 24. Several classical dancers of regional and national fame would be participating in this carnival, she added.

Theft cases

Several cases of thefts have been reported in the town in the past 24 hours. These include dacoity at a house in Sector-30 and stealing of at least three motorcycles in various incidents.

According to complaints lodged with the police, some thieves entered a locked house in Sector-30 on Wednesday night and decamped with a cash amount of Rs 20,000 and some jewellery. The house belongs to one Mahesh Kumar Verma, who was not at his residence at the time of incident. A case has been registered. In another incidents three motorcycles were stolen from various spots in the town. These include mobike of one Hemant Sharma of NIT, whose two wheeler was lifted from Sector-8. And the mobikes of one Nischal Kumar, resident of Ghaziabad, went missing from Sector-16. A motorcyle was also stolen from Jawahar colony of the NIT on Wednesday.

Truckload of apples skids

Sonepat: A truckload of apple fell into a `khud’ and turned turtle on the G T Road near Rai village about 12 km from here on Wednesday evening. According to a report, the truck was on its way to Delhi from J&K. When it reached near Rai village, the driver lost his control on it and this resulted in the accident.

Rs 5 lakh robbed outside DC’s residence

Rohtak, November 21
Three armed robbers snatched an amount of Rs 5.10 lakh from a cashier of the Head Post Office near its main gate today. The miscreants also took away the rifle of the security guard and escaped in a Maruti car. The car and the rifle were later recovered by the police from Chinyot colony here.

Mr J.P.Saini, the officiating Senior Superintendent of the post office, said the crime was that the involvement of some ‘insiders’ could not be ruled out. He suspected that the crime was carried out with the connivance of some agents who had been operating their business in the post office premises and were aware of the post office schedule. He alleged that the post office authorities had repeatedly complained against the ‘undesirable’ activities of these agents, but no action been taken. OC

Businessman robbed of Rs 6.5 lakh
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 21
Two youths on a motorcycle robbed Rs 6.5 lakh from a businessman in Jhandewalan area in central district this morning.

The incident occurred when the victim Vijay Kumar was going to deposit the money to Jammu and Kashmir Bank on his scooter in Karol Bagh.

The victim has a shop of plastic grains in Azadpur Market. When he reached Jhandewalan Chembri red light, the youths overtook his vehicle and stopped him. They had an altercation. While one of the suspects was busy in the argument, his associate fired in the air and fled away with the money and scooter, police said. The local police have launched a massive hunt to nab the suspect.

Youths from Haryana arrested

Seven youths, who came from Haryana to see Trade fair, were arrested by the North district police today, on charge of eve-teasing. They were in a gypsy and followed a young lady who was going to her house along with her husband.

The youths followed her from Red Fort and passed indecent comments. At red light signals, they stopped their vehicles parallel to the scooter of the lady. When the husband of the lady objected their behaviour, the youths threatened him of dire consequences. While driving the scooter, husband of the victim met a police team patrolling on motorcycles and narrated the entire story. The police arrested them. During interrogation, they disclosed that they were science and arts graduates and came from Haryana to visit Trade Fair for fun, the police said.

Criminal wanted in factory loot held
Our Correspondent

Ghaziabad, September 21
Vijay Nagar police arrested a criminal, who was wanted in the loot of a factory in Kavi Nagar industrial area and had also robbed a mill cashier of Rs 3 lakh in broad day, recently.

A stolen Yamha motorbike, a country made revolver and Rs 10,000 in cash were recovered from the criminal, who has been identified as Lokesh. The police are now trying to nab his other associates.

According to the SP (City), Mr Umesh Kumar Srivastava, the Vijay Nagar police station SO Anil Somanya, while on a patrol duty, along with his cops at 10 pm on Wednesday night, stopped a youth astride a motorbike near medical trijunction.

The youth identified himself as Lokesh, resident of Kailash Nagar under Vijay Nagar police station. He could not give satisfactory answer about his motorbike number.

Laser show a big draw at IITF
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 21
The island lake at Pragati Maidan has become one of the main attractions at the IITF this year. The scintillating laser show depicting a variety of colourful lights underneath the water has enthralled visitors.

Thousands of people surround the lake every evening before the laser show begins on a huge display board above the water level. The skilful work of art has a lightening impact on the visitors. Titled Incredible India, the show has been created by the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) and the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. It highlights the tourist attractions of the country like art, heritage, culture, adventure etc.

The other attraction at Pragati Maidan is “Himalayan Exposition” reflecting the grandeur of snow-capped peaks and pristine purity of the majestic Himalayas. This show is a collection of massive giant photographs depicting picturesque Himalayan beauties, including hills, lakes, peaks and religious places.

Lakhs of visitors thronged Pragati Maidan over the weekend to see the Asia’s biggest trade show of its kind. Apart from the displays, the gastronomic delicacies and the cultural feasts have also been extremely popular.

Cultural evenings, state day celebrations, folk music and dances, puppet shows, magic shows, qawwalis and ghazals provided a feel of the rich cultural heritage.

Popular performers like Mika, Manoj Tiwari, Komala Varadan and Satish Babbar have already drawn huge crowds. Others like Bali Brahmbhatt, Falguni Pathak, Daksha Sheth and company, Arunima Kumar and Madhumita Raut are due to perform in the coming days. The entry is free for all these performances.

S.D.Aggarwal gets Delhi Ratan Award
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 21
All India Conference of Intellectuals, Delhi Chapter, honoured Delhi Ratan Award to Mr S. D. Aggarwal, Executive Director, Blazeflash Couriers Pvt Ltd.

AICI is a non-political and non-religious organisation, working since 1981. This organisation has so far honoured several intellectuals for their respective and glorious contributions in various spheres. The Executive Director, Mr S.D. Aggarwal, in just 3-4 years have made the name of Blazeflash well-known. Through 175 self offices 2,500 franchisees 4,000 man power, company is providing satisfactory mail distribution network for more than 2,200 destination at a very reasonable rates.

Other prominent receivers of the award till date are: Mr Mahashay Dharmpal, CMD, MDH Limited, Sadar N. S. Gujral, CMD, Punjab & Sind Bank, Mrs Sheila Dikshit, Mr Arun Jaitely, Mrs Ambika Soni, Mr Rajat Sharma.

Councillor’s demand

BJP councillor Vijender Kumar has demanded that the proposal pending with the Standing Committee of the MCD for levying one time parking fee for private and commercial vehicles in the Capital should be withdrawn as it will put extra burden on middle-class people.

He said that views described by the municipal commissioner in favour of the proposal are not true and it is a tactic to cover and hide the inefficiency and corruption in tax collection by the corporation.