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CBI probe demanded into burning of Dalit colony
Plot thickens as Sheila fails to make meeting
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CVC seeks details on power privatisation from Delhi govt
Four LPG-run vehicles impounded
Ambitious Jamia plan to spread its wings
IIPM students get free laptops
DUSU polls see low turnout of 45 per cent
14 criminals externed from Gt Noida
HC asks LG to expedite work on ISBT at Narela
CBI raids Special Traffic Courts
‘Admn has no role in grabbing of mining pit’
Several hurt in post-poll clashes
Vijay Shree awards given
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CBI probe demanded into burning of Dalit colony
Faridabad, September 2 The Aadi Dharam Samaj
(AADAS) and the state unit of the Akhil Bhartiya Safai Majdoor Congress
(ABSM) have sought a CBI probe into the incident. However, there was little response to the bandh call. All offices, educational institutions, shops and commercial establishments remained open and the state transport buses plied as usual. There was no report of any untoward incident in wake of the protest and the bandh in the district today. The members of the AADAS and the ABSM gathered at the Gandhi Colony in the NIT here this morning and marched to Neelam Chowk, where they staged a dharna to lodge their protest. The district administration was well prepared to tackle “any fallout of the protests”. Earlier, the protesters flayed the district authorities for the unfortunate incident and claimed that it had spread fear psychosis among the weaker sections in the region. The protesters raised slogans against the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police and demanded their suspension. They also demanded that the officials should be made accountable for such incidents. Demanding a CBI probe, they asked the government to pay a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to those whose houses were damaged or gutted. The district unit of Sarva Karamchari Sangh
(SKS), a body of the state government staff, also staged a demonstration at the
mini-secretariate here for about two hours. Later, they submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister through the Deputy Commissioner. Seeking a high-level judicial inquiry into the incident, the Sangh blamed the district administration for the “unfortunate” development. The district president of the Sangh, Mr Subhash Lamba, said that the Gohana incident was a “blot on the name of Haryana”. They demanded that the government should ensure that such incident was not repeated in the future. The local unit of the CPI (M) also submitted a memorandum to the government in this connection. The president of the Gramin Bharat, a social organisation, Mr Ved Prakash
Vidrohi, has also condemned the incident and sought compensation for the affected families.
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Plot thickens as Sheila fails to make meeting
New Delhi, September 2 The decision was taken after Ms Dikshit and her Cabinet colleagues failed to turn up for a meeting convened by Mr Sharma on the power tariff imbroglio. “At a meeting of the MPs and CWC members on Wednesday, we had told her Ministers who were present to ask her to attend today’s discussions,” Sharma told reporters. “However, she sent a letter to me asking me to discuss the issue with all concerned so that it can be taken up at the Coordination Committee meeting between the government and DPCC on September 8,” he said. The DPCC president said that he would brief the party president in detail about the entire power issue. He said that he would write to her first and will meet her when ever given the time. The DPCC members and MPs were upset that neither Ms Dikshit nor any of her 6 Cabinet Ministers attended today’s meeting. Also conspicuous by their absence were the other two Delhi MPs, Mr Kapil Sibal and Mr Sandeep Dikshit, the latter Ms Dikshit’s son. Besides Mr Sharma, those present were MPs Mr Ajay Maken, Mr Jagdish Tytler, Mr Sajjan Kumar and Ms Krishna Tirath, CWC members Mr Pervez Hashmi, Mr R K Anand and Mr R K Dhawan and former DPCC Presidents Mr Subhash Chopra, Ms Tajdar Babbar and Mr Shivcharan Gupta, most of them known detractors of the Chief Minister. The Delhi Chief Minister, who is into her second term, has been having a running feud with her detractors within the DPCC for a long time and things came to a head earlier this year when she walked out of a meeting after her ‘style of functioning’ came under criticism from some of her party colleagues. The differences were sorted out at the intervention of the party high command which also persuaded both the warring factions to have regular coordination meetings. Mr Tytler, who was forced to resign recently after indictment by the Nanawati Commission probing 1984 anti Sikh riots, said that the participants were “adamant” that the government should not subsidise the private distribution companies for the roll-back in power tariff. Mr Maken, Ms Dikshit’s once blue-eyed boy turned bete noire, gave a presentation in the meeting alleging that the government was favouring the Discoms and not following the original agreement, party sources said. Mr Maken was the Delhi Power Minister at the time of privatisation. Accusing Ms Dikshit of showing “insensitivity” towards an issue affecting lakhs of citizens, former Union Minister Mr Tytler said: “We were not sitting here for fun. The meeting was to discuss a very important issue.” Pointing out that Ms Dikshit had not attended Wednesday’s meeting as well, he said: “We can understand that she had to go to the National Integration Council (NIC), but what about today?” Demanding that customers be reimbursed for their hiked power bills due to “faulty meters”, he said: “I will write to the Congress President that people of the city should not be looted in this way.”
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CVC seeks details on power privatisation
New Delhi, September 2 Acknowledging a letter written by Leader of Opposition Mr Jagdish Mukhi demanding a probe into the DVB’s privatisation, CVC Additional Secretary Balwinder Singh wrote: “The matter is receiving attention in the Commission. A report has been called in the matter from the Chief Secretary, Government of NCT of Delhi.” Mr Mukhi had written to the CVC on July 26 and received the acknowledgement from the Commission yesterday. In his letter to the CVC, the BJP leader had alleged gross irregularities in the privatisation of DVB and quoting the CAG report had claimed that there was a scam of over Rs 8,000 crore involved in it. He, along with several other MLAs, had also approached the CVC in person and had a four-hour-long discussion with its officials on the issue. The Sheila Dikshit government has come under considerable criticism from the opposition as well from within the Delhi Pradesh Congress party for having encouraged the private power companies to hike electricity tariff. The government of the NCT of Delhi had to roll back the recent 10 per cent hike announced by the power companies in the face of stiff opposition even though the Chief Minister had repeatedly sought to justify the hike, the third in as many years. The recent hike as well as the performance of the companies had also come under criticism from the Standing Committee of Parliament on Power recently. Meanwhile, in another development, a BJP economist today called for a thorough inquiry by the CBI or any other agency into the hike in power tariff and subsequent decision of the Delhi Government to make good the losses by way of payment of around Rs 160 crore as subsidy to the power distribution companies. Former Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council member Jagadish Shettigar said several questions had arisen by the ‘unilateral decision’ of the Power Regulatory Commission to hike the power tariff by 10 per cent without a demand from the distribution companies, the reversal of the decision at the Congress Legislature Party meeting and the import of sub-standard meters which added to the confusion. He said it was the Congress Legislature Party which took a decision to pay the subsidy to the distribution companies which was later endorsed by the Delhi Government. It is more of a display of internal polity of the Congress party rather than consumer protests, he felt. The role of the statutory Power Regulatory Authority and its functioning was itself under cloud. This body, constituted under the Central Electricity Act was not allowed to function autonomously and the government obviously imposed its decision. The result was that it recommended 10 per cent tariff hike when the distribution companies did not officially seek for it. He said the two power distribution companies who were given the responsibility of energy distribution were asked to carry on the old burden — the Delhi Vidyut Board employees. “There was no systematic change after the two companies took over and the change was only in the name. They were the same old people not wanting to adopt any new work culture that was required of a private energy distributor. The result was unchecked continuation of high power theft in Delhi one of the major reasons for the near collapse of the system and the consumers took to the streets. Analysing the situation, he said the reduction in losses was mainly due to technical improvement of the distribution system and introduction of sensitive meters. But there were several complaints about fast running meters because the were certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards. All these suggested that there was something seriously wrong and hence a probe would unravel things, he added.
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Four LPG-run vehicles impounded
Faridabad, September 2 It has warned of taking strict action against all those who were found to be involved in the misuse of domestic gas. The officials concerned had recovered at least 43 LPG cylinders being used commercially a couple of days ago. According to the Deputy Commissioner, Ms G. Anupama, a special campaign had been launched in the district to check the misuse of domestic gas cylinders. Action taken in the past two days had been a part of this drive. She said the District Food and Supply Department and the police had been instructed to keep a special check on the movement of the vehicles using LPG cylinders illegally. She said a raid had been conducted in certain parts of the town recently. Several persons had been booked for illegal commercial use of domestic gas. The offenders included some restaurants and shops against whom legal action had been initiated, she said. This is perhaps the first time that the district authorities have initiated such a drive and provided details of the vehicles and the shops where the illegal use of domestic gas cylinders has been allegedly going on. Though the Transport Department and the police had been checking the LPG-run vehicles in the town from time to time, action was either taken or delayed due to corruption at various levels. This resulted in such vehicles plying unchecked due to an understanding between the officials concerned and the vehicle owners. ‘The Tribune’ had earlier reported that hundreds of vehicles, including a large number of school vans, had been plying on illegal gas kits and LPG cylinders, posing a serious safety risk to a large number of schoolchildren.
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Ambitious Jamia plan to spread its wings
New Delhi, September 2 The attempt is to make available key facilities to the localities which include a humble computer centre that interestingly provides a diploma in computer applications in Urdu language DTP. Further, a first-rate reading room has been provided at the same site open to the public and the university has also begun a major translation project in collaboration with the NCERT for translating school textbooks into Urdu over a period of three years. Prof. Hasan told ‘The Tribune’ recently that he is “particularly happy about linking up with the localities and with the progress of the outreach programme. It is only this year that we started a computer programme, a reading room and a very sophisticated digital equaliser programme which is open to the public in the localities.” Still others closely associated with the programme feel that the main motivation behind this programme has been a “sense of community” and a “sense of giving back something substantial to the public”. The diploma course in computer applications in Urdu began mid-July. It is a joint effort between the university and the NCPUL or the National Council for the Promotion of Urdu Language. The centre has a posh look with its array of computers sitting on pine-coloured tables. At present, about 63 students are enrolled for the one-year diploma course which takes the DOEACC ‘O’ level course contents as base. The course contents include programming techniques, developing database applications, accounting package, web-designing tools, Urdu and Hindi DTP. The course includes classroom teaching and hands-on training. University sources inform that Jamia has invested over two and a half lakhs in setting up this centre. Moreover, the course fee is extremely nominal—a mere Rs 350. Students are enrolled from different backgrounds which include housewives, retired people, people between jobs and Jamia students. Almost all of them are drawn from the neighbourhood.. The two teachers registered there have been provided by NCPUL. This organisation has developed a workable module for teaching Urdu DTP. The computer center is located in the Centre for Jawaharlal Nehru Studies. In addition, Jamia has provided the investment, and infrastructure facilities. The university has set up a public reading room which has over 6,000 books, complete with a children’s corner and a magazine section. The university has to deliver some 33 complete translated manuscripts in a year. The work is being farmed out by the university to translators which include schoolteachers, faculty from the university’s department of education, retired people and professional translators. Workshops are also going to be held for translators to facilitate their interaction with authors, area experts and language experts. Alongside translators, wetters will be used as also proof readers, copy editors and small printers.
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IIPM students get free laptops
New Delhi, September 2 The laptops have come as a boon to the students. The students feel that the laptops would not only help them to enhance their general computing skills, but would also help them in becoming self independent while working on their projects, assignments or paper presentations. This would also mean that the students would no longer have to spend late hours in the institute’s computer-dromes. Instead, they can work out in the comfort of their residence. As an additional feature, all the nine IIPM campuses, spread across seven centres in the country, have been recently made wire free, with the installation of Wi-Fi devices. This, the institute feels, would provide the students with an additional advantage of staying online for unlimited time, whenever they are in any of these campuses. According to Prof Prasoon Majumdar, Dean-Academics, IIPM: “We want to provide all those facilities to our students that would ensure the best academic environment for enriching their cause of pursuing academic excellence. It should help our students to gear up for the global competition.” As an initial phase, over 1500 notebook PCs have been given out to the new batch of students for the academic session 2005-07 in all the 7 centres. This is by far, the largest number of free laptops ever given out by any institute in India to its students in a single academic session, a feat that very few would dare to achieve.
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DUSU polls see low turnout of 45 per cent
New
Delhi, September 2 A
moderate turnout of about 40 to 45 percent in both the first and the
second half during polling here today is being attributed to various
reasons, from delayed results to bad weather. “It is not true that
students are losing interest, they are just as passionate about Campus
politics as ever, but this time the candidates have failed to evoke a
response. They did not draw crowds, which is why there was a low
turnout,” said a NSUI functionary. ABVP’s State Secretary, Nakul
Bhardwaj also conceded that the turnout was low. Incidentally,
university officials maintain that the turn out “appeared low because
of the stringent checks in all colleges”. Prof. Rajiv Khanna, Chief
Election Officer said: “This year we allowed only the boanfide
students to enter the college promises –all hangers-on were kept out
– so many got the impression that there is a very low turnout”. In
the North Campus, the highest turn out was in Ramjas with 1088 ballots
being cast, in sharp contrast to Kirori Mal where a mere 300 were cast.
In the first half, Dyal Singh, Shyam Lal and colleges in Outer Delhi
saw a turnout of about 60 to 65 percent. In the second half, colleges
like Moti Lal, Aurobindo and Bhagat Singh had a turnout of about 45
percent. Commenting on the decline in the number of those who cast
their ballot, a university official said: “The results for many
courses were delayed this year. Because of this a number of second year
students whose results are still awaited could not cast their votes”.
Prof Khanna was quick to point out that there were no untoward
incidents reported this year. “No violence, no complaints; polling has
been generally peaceful”. In most colleges of the North Campus,
students opted to vote for the panels of their respective colleges and
many confessed that they did not want to cast their ballots for the DUSU
panel.
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14 criminals externed from Gt Noida
Greater Noida, September 2 According to Additional District Magistrate Rajiv Kumar Yadav, 14 criminals have been externed from the district so that crime and lawlessness can be curbed from the area. These include Chhotu, alias Surinder, son of Shoraj, Satveer, son of Musey Yadav, and Devinder, son of Gori Yadav of Sarfabad village. From Chaurati village, Pushpinder, alias Rathi, son of Ombeer, and Sunil, son of Brijesh Chand from Khora Colony, Dal Chand from Oowchi Dankaur, Rajpal, son of Chimi Lal from Noida, Nangla village, Sunil, son of Mahesh of Sector 5 slum cluster have aalso been externed Mr Yadav said he had issued notices to all of them and asked them to present their case before his court. This step is understood to have been taken keeping in mind the district panchayat poll so that the poll could be conducted in a fair and peaceful manner.
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HC asks LG to expedite work on ISBT at Narela
New Delhi, September 2 Justices Vijender Jain and R S Sodhi said, “The order be placed before the Lt. Governor to find a suitable site for the bus terminus at Narela and apprise the court in four weeks”. The Court also asked the Delhi government to file a status report every 3 month on the progress of establishing the inter-state bus terminus (ISBT) on the border of the Capital for terminating
non-CNG buses coming to Delhi. The court issued the direction after Delhi government counsel Hima Kohli submitted that the ISBT Narela project was yet to take off as the land earlier allotted by DDA was not suitable for the purpose and a fresh allotment was awaited. In its affidavit, Delhi government said “a joint survey has been carried out along with the officers of DDA and the DDA has been repeatedly requested to expedite the allotment”. Taking objection to Kohli’s submission that after the allotment of land feasibility studies will be completed within three months, the court said the process can be expedited by approaching the Lt. Governor.
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CBI raids Special Traffic Courts
New Delhi, September 2 Acting on a complaint received by District Judge S N Dhingra that large-scale irregularities were allegedly taking place in the courts handling challan matters, CBI sleuths searched the courtrooms of A K Sharma, S P Jain and S R
Nautiyal, all of them officiating as Special Metropolitan Magistrates. CBI sources said in a surprise search and after questioning, one of the touts admitted the nexus with court officials. They said it was detected that instead of challan money going to the exchequer, it was allegedly pocketed by the court officials and other people involved in the illegal act. Meanwhile, CBI is preparing the search memo after which follow up action will be taken, the sources said.
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‘Admn has no role in grabbing of mining pit’
Faridabad, September 2 Reacting to the allegation levelled by the BJP leader, Mr Krishan Pal Gurjar, the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police said in an press release that the allegations that the police had helped in grabbing one of the mining pit belonging to a kin of the BJP leader was baseless. Stating that there could be disputes among the parties or the individuals involved in such type of activity, the Deputy Commissioner, Mrs G. Anupama, said that a constant vigil was on in the Aravalli hills region to check illegal mining or construction activity. No one would be allowed to violate the ban imposed by the Supreme Court, she added.
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Several hurt in post-poll clashes
Ghaziabad, September 2 Violence erupted in Tibra village near Modinagar in the district when the gram pradhan entered the village with a procession after taking oath, with the rival group allegedly opening fire leaving four persons injured. They were admitted to a hospital at Modinagar. In another incident in Massupur village of the district, gram pradhan Sandeep was attacked along with his followers by the rival group, Inspector-General of Police Vipin Kumar Sharma said. Similar incidents were reported from two
villages of Bulandshahr district with clashes between supporters of winning and losing candidates in the recently-held Uttar Pradesh panchayat elections.
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Vijay Shree awards given
New Delhi, September 2 The awards, carrying a trophy, a gold medal and a certificate of excellence, were given away to the recipients by Dr Bhishma Narain Singh, former governor of Tamil Nadu, at a function at Hotel Connaught here. The Revenue Ministers of Haryana and Himachal, Capt Ajay Yadav and Mr Sat Mahajan, respectively, are among the recipients. The others are Dr Saifuddin Soz, Rajya Sabha MP, Prof H. N. Tewari, former VC of Bhopal University, Dr Suresh Kumar Sharma and Dr Vaishnavi from the PGI, Chandigarh, Dr Puneet Gupta from Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, Mrs Santosh Satya, Professor, IIT, Delhi, Dr Bimla Kapoor, Professor of Nursing at IGNOU, Delhi, Mr S. K. Sharma, Principal, Greenfields School, Dilshad Garden. The awards are given by the India International Friendship Society and International Society of Success Awareness.
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