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Khurana, Uma declare joint fight against BJP
Industries in Greater Noida may relocate due to power shortage
Govt eager to have Metro link to Gurgaon at earliest: Chief Secy
Students cry foul over enhanced quota
DDA gets pat from Reddy on planned Dwarka
New show on new-look SaharaOne today
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Monuments’ demolition: HC issues notices to Centre, ASI
Deputy Speaker demands return of Rs 20 crore from IOA
Advocate
shot at doorstep
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Khurana, Uma declare joint fight against BJP
New Delhi, April 9 This announcement was made today at the start of a week-long Delhi Bachao Sangharsh Yatra being taken out by Mr Madan Lal Khurana in Karol Bagh. Ms Uma Bharti accompanied him today. At a joint press conference with the Delhi political stalwart, Ms Bharti said, “This is the beginning of a new political era in Indian politics. Ours is a struggle for both ‘roti’ (food) and Ram.” Without saying what name their new political front would have or giving any other details, she gave indication about launching a platform where issues closer to the poor would find resonance along with matters related to the Hindutva school. The BJP’s Hindutva politics stood exposed when the then party chief L. K. Advani apologised for the Ayodhya demolition during his trip to Pakistan while its promise of providing clean politics lay in tatters when it sought electoral help from UP politician Mukhtar Ansari, she said. The Congress and Left parties that claimed to champion the cause of the poor had a poor track record on implementing promises, she added. Though he kept repeating his resolve to fight the wrongs being done to “my Delhi” most of the time, Mr Khurana admitted while answering questions that he would “travel with Umaji all over the country after Delhi’s ‘battle’ and fight the wrongs being done in the BJP”. He refused to take questions on the proposed new political front saying it would be decided only after he finished the ‘Delhi Bachao Sangharsh Yatra’ which he started yesterday to protest the ongoing demolition and sealing drives of municipal authorities against illegal constructions and commercial establishments in the capital. To a question, he, however, ruled out accepting the BJP state chief’s post once again in Delhi. ‘’There is no question of that now’’, he said. The former Delhi CM had announced yesterday that he would return to electoral politics in Delhi once again. But he did not clarify today from what party platform he would contest future polls. To a question, Ms Bharti supported his demand that the Centre bring an ordinance to end the demolition and sealing drives in Delhi. “When the Centre can bring an ordinance in the Shah Bano case, why can’t it bring an ordinance now when the interest of lakhs of people is at stake,” she said.
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Industries in Greater Noida may relocate due to
Greater Noida, April 9 The industrialists, who are feeling cheated by the local administration and the UP Power Corporation authorities, are reported to be gradually planning to relocate their industries to Uttaranchal. Those who had recently bought industrial plots in Greater Noida are also in two minds, as they have not yet set up their plants here. As a result, the allotment of 161 plots has been cancelled by the GNIDA. It may be recalled that the Greater Noida Authority, like its Noida counterpart, had promised the industrialists that they would be provided uninterrupted power and water supply in the industrial belt. Gradually, some 400 large and small entrepreneurs had set up their units, which had increased the demand for power. Now the situation is that while the demand for power is touching 80 MW, the supply continues to range between 40 - 45 MW. According to a source, the authorities had failed to anticipate this scenario. Authorities have now promised that the commissioning of the Pali powerhouse by mid-April will solve the problem. However, even after the commissioning of the Pali powerhouse there will still be a gap of at least 20 MW. The industrialists take these promises with a pinch of salt, as authorities’ have made several such “false promises” in this connection in the past. According to the president of Indian Industries Association, Noida, Mr Ashwani Mahendra, with the present power situation the association is no longer in a position to recommend the setting up of new units here. A number of industrialists, who had been allotted plots here, are heading towards Uttaranchal, which is offering many incentives like tax holiday for five years to the new industries, Mr Mahindra said. The power position is also much better there, he added. He alleged that the attitude of the authorities and the NPCL towards such problems are “very casual and indifferent”. The industrialists here warned that to do business here one should be prepared for partial shut down for six to eight hours daily. As regard the residential areas, the residents have prepared themselves for power cuts even during the nights. Apart from sweating, the residents are worried about the incidents of housebreak, loot and other crimes, which also tend to increase “during power-less dark nights”.
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Govt eager to have Metro link to Gurgaon at earliest: Chief Secy
Gurgaon, April 9 Ms Chaudhary, who was here to attend the 26th Annual General Meeting of the Gurgaon Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), said that the revised route was finalised in a recent meeting of concerned parties convened by the Planning Commission. According to the new schedule, the technical appraisal of the project will be completed within two months from now. She was responding to a number of demands put forth to the government by the GCCI. Expressing Haryana Government’s eagerness to have the Metro link to Gurgaon at the earliest, she said that it was ready for any alignment drawn by the Delhi Government. The Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, was keen to expedite the whole process. The government does not want to get the project delayed by being choosy on alignment, she said. With regard the power situation in the State, she said that the government was doing its best to increase the generation of power in the State. She said that there will be gestation period in setting up the project. It was pointed out that there was a plan to purchase 200 CNG buses for the cities of Haryana. Moreover, 10 air-conditioned buses for the local transport have been sanctioned. It was further stated that the State is in the process of drafting “Vision-2020” document. It would address the projected demands and expectations of the State till the year 2020, so that action could be taken for the overall development of the State. Moreover, a comprehensive plans for traffic management and disaster management are being worked out both at the State and the district headquarters. She made a plea to the captains of industry to train the youths to enable them to achieve skills and later find placements in various firms. She was accompanied by senior officers relating to trade and industry. The GCCI has demanded that the government play a pro-active role in promotion of tourism in the region, disposal and treatment of solid waste and clarity about the operational aspects of the proposed Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the State.
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Students cry foul over enhanced quota
New Delhi, April 9 Fifty per cent quota is against fundamental principles of human rights and constitutional rights of equal opportunity. Ajay Jain, chief coordinator of United Students, has said, “A parallel education system by private entrepreneurs at the primary level has kept excellence going in our country and now the government is dipping its hands into another’s kitty, their rotten performance on primary education front is being covered by the band –aid of reservations. It is now a permanent illness.” “We feel unwanted in our own country.. Not only the students, but the teaching fraternity has to wake up to the disaster. A nation-wide protest needs to be organised. I fear Mandal Commission part II is in the making. The standard of IIMs and IITs will also fall as they will produce incompetent professionals”, said Scurit Arora, a student of Class XII and an aspirant for IIM. “ Reservation on the basis of caste is a communal notion. Where is the security here?” asked Aditya Rai Kaul, a student who has Meanwhile, fashion designers today criticised the government for the proposed reservation in educational and technical institutes, including the NIFT, saying that the move was a “political gimmick”. “We all know the decision is a political gimmick to please the backward castes and win polls. Politics should not come into creativity. This is a shameful decision. It would only reduce competence,” designer Rina Dhaka said. An NIFT alumnus and designer of repute, Paras of Geisha Designs, said “it is ridiculous. The government should give more financial aid to needy students and find other ways to help them. Reservation is not the way at all. In fact, Government should phase out the quota system.” NIFT alumnus Ashish Pandey said the decision is “uncalled for”. Designer Ranna Gill referred to it as “very sad”.
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DDA gets pat from Reddy on planned Dwarka
New Delhi, April 9 He called upon it to take up development of other sub-cities also and assured full assistance and cooperation of the central government. Delhi was going to be the biggest city of the world and the endeavour would be to make it the most beautiful, he said in an inaugural function of the flyovers and underpass on Palam Road connecting Dwarka. Inaugurating the flyovers, he said the problems of Delhi developed over a period of time as influx of population to the city was very high. About five lakh people came to Delhi every year. According to him, the objective of the court orders was very good and “we are going to approach the courts and apprise them of the difficulties which we are facing”. “Sealing and demolition can be done to a certain extent only as otherwise life will come to a standstill. The government is aware of the problems of shopkeepers, traders and resident welfare associations and will thus go to the court informing them of the problems. If required, efforts will be made to bring an ordinance and if needed, amendment to the relevant law will also be done. If need be, ways of functioning of the civic bodies will also be changed so that people have faith in these institutions.” The Lt-Governor, who also attended the function, said that Delhi had its own history and identity which needed to be conserved. He emphasised the need for development of National Capital Region (NCR) and shifting of institutions to check the migration to Delhi. Regarding the Master Plan, he said that most of the work had been done and 7000 suggestions received from the public were being considered by a committee of experts. The new Master Plan would come with mixed land use, participation in development, public private participation in housing etc. He said that building bylaws should be more flexible as per the needs of hour. The Chief Minister, Ms Sheila Dikshit, said the DDA had done a very good work in Dwarka and this sub-city would become the pride of not only Delhi but the entire country. This area had been planned keeping in view future and distant vision in mind. Indra Prastha University will be shifted to Dwarka and a new 800-bed hospital will be developed there.
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New show on new-look SaharaOne today
New Delhi, April
9 Mr Purnendu Bose, COO, SaharaOne Television, spoke about the new show on the channel: “The new year has started with a host of new offerings for our viewers on the channel. Our new look is in keeping with our strategy to evolve with the Indian women, keeping her entertainment needs in mind. The new show,
“Suno…Harr Dill Kuchh Kehtaa Hai”, is yet another attempt from the SaharaOne Television stable to give our viewers a concept that is fresh, close to what most women want…like having the power to know what men want. In the coming months SaharaOne Television will offer its viewers with more new innovative and interactive programming.” Produced by Contelio Films,
“Suno…Harr Dill Kuchh Kehtaa Hai” is not just about grasping moments from the power of clairvoyance, but projecting the tracks that take the characters and their journeys through ups and downs, thus tapping a sea of emotions in the process. The lead role of Ambika Kapoor in
“Suno…Harr Dill Kuchh Kehtaa Hai” will be played by the beautiful semi-finalist of Ponds Femina Miss India 2006, Niyati Joshi. Along with
Niyati, television’s top actors, like Prachee Shah, Navin Nischol, Kamini Khanna, Prabha Sinha and Siddharth Dhawan, will play strong roles in this new show. While this new show is very contemporary, there are a lot of twists and turns that break away from the clutter of regular story lines. The packaging of SaharaOne Television has been done by the Singapore-based Bruce Dunlop Associates
(BDA) with music made soothing to the ears by Bollywood’s favorite Shantanu
Moitra.
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Monuments’ demolition: HC issues notices to
New Delhi, April 9 A Division Bench headed by Mr Justice Vijender Jain issued notice to the authorities to file their replies to the petition. In the petition, counsel Sugriva Dubey and Namita Roy appearing for Sri Chand Jain alleged that some of the monuments near Old Railway Station — Teen Gumbadwala Smarak, Jogabai Ka Teela, Inqla Wali Gumti, Shershah Ke Kile Ka Moti Darwaza, Pul Chadar Alipur Kabristan, Barakhamba Kabristan, the statue of Nicholson, the statue of MacBurnett (installed during the First War of Independence of 1857) and the place of top cannon installed during the attack on Mori Gate — were missing due to the negligence of the ASI. “About 17 monuments had either been demolished or the statues and material in them been taken away or smuggled out of the country,” the petition said. The petition, citing ASI records, stated that out of 11,000 monuments at least 3776 were of historical importance. Out of them, 1,200 were in different parts of the Capital. Mr Jain has sought direction to the authorities for preservation and conservation of these monuments as in other foreign countries. The French Government had spent $ 4.4 million to give a facelift to the monuments in Paris, he said, adding that the government should also initiate steps to preserve and conserve the monuments in Delhi.
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Deputy Speaker demands return of Rs 20 cr from IOA
New Delhi, April 9 The truth was all celebrities who performed at the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne had charged whopping fees (crores each), Mr Iqbal, who was also part of Delhi government’s official delegation at the ceremony, said last night. He added that all celebrities who did not perform and went there just to indulge in partying were also paid a fat sum just for their presence. Not to mention the lodging, boarding and travelling all premium class over and above the fees for sheer presence. The horrifying fact was that the IOA had spent Rs 40 crore—Rs 29 crore of which was to come from Delhi Government and Rs 11 crore from the central government—for the above, he claimed. Saying IOA officials would have to answer these questions, he added, “I believe Ashwarya Rai, Saif Ali Khan, Rani Mukherjee and others owe an explanation to the country, how much money they received and from whom.” The Delhi Government had decided not to release the balance Rs 9 crore
to the IOA. “Rather, we demand back the Rs 20 crore that we have already paid to the IOA,” he added.
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Advocate
shot at doorstep
Ghaziabad, April 9 As the news of the killing spread, a large number of people marched to the G.T. Road and blocked it. The protesters also pelted stones at the police and passing vehicles. It may be pointed out that Ajay Sharma’s brother was also shot dead three years ago in similar circumstances. According to sources, the advocate had just returned home at 10 p.m. after visiting his wife, who is admitted in a hospital. As soon as the victim stepped out from the house, the assailants fired a number of shots at him. Even as his family members and neighbours rushed him to a hospital, some people tried to chase the assailants. However, the criminals managed to escape. The doctors declared Ajay Sharma brought dead at the district government hospital. A large numbers of agitated friends and relatives raised slogans against the
police.
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Artscape Ravi Bhatia Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 9 SPACE provides comprehensive courses in painting, sculpture, dance, theatre and communication. The gallery, which was inaugurated by Ms. Tracey Hummers, a New York-based journalist and internationally recognized art critic, is also presenting the inaugural exhibition, “14 Strokes” comprising the best works of the third and fourth-year students of SPACE. In love with painting The Dhoomimal Gallery here is showcasing the recent works of artist couple, Usha and Pulak Biswas from April 8 to April 20.The couple, who have been painting for more than four decades now, have participated in many national and international events. Their work has been critically acclaimed and now forms part of many a private collection all over the world.
Painting exhibition at Gallery Espace An exhibition of paintings by B. M. Kamath entitled, “Something Happened”, is on at Gallery Espace, New Friends Colony, here. The exhibition will remain open for public till April 22.
A large number of people here took advantage of the opportunity provided by the Osho World Foundation to watch “Raja”, the famous play authored by the Nobel Laureate Gurudev Rabindra Nath Tagore, staged at the Kamani Auditorium here. The play, presented by Leela Arts production, written in 1910- 1911, is a symbolic spiritual quest for truth and beauty. The play was directed by Sanjeev Johri, music by Subroto Das and choreography by Saswati Sen, a disciple of Pandit Birju Maharaj.
New paradigm The Gallery Threshold here is presenting ‘New Paradigm III’, an exhibition showcasing the works of 12 contemporary artists at Gallerie Romain Roland, Alliance Francaise, Lodhi Estate here. The exhibition is on till April 14.
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