New Delhi, September 12
Commuters and office goers in the National Capital Territory of Delhi had a harrowing time reaching their destinations today because of the "Rasta Roko" agitation by the volunteers of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as part of their nationwide protest against the government's decision to go ahead with the Sethusamudram project.

The activists began their blockade at around 8 am which is the beginning of the rush hour.

As a result, traffic in most parts of the Capital came to a virtual halt. Some of the worst affected areas were Nizamuddin Bridge, ITO, Yamuna Bridge, Akshardham Temple, Vikas Marg, Connaught Place, Dwarka flyover, Lajpat Nagar, South Extension and along National Highway 8. The smooth flow of traffic was also affected in Khajoori and Bhajanpura.

It took the traffic police several hours to restore normalcy. A number of activists, including some local leaders of VHP and BJP, were also taken into custody for causing obstruction to public servants on duty.

VHP leaders claimed that the Sethusamudram project would destroy the mythical 'Ram Setu' linking India and Sri Lanka. 

New Delhi, September 12
Opposing the Sethusamudram project in its present form, yoga exponent Swami Ramdev today criticised the affidavit filed by the ASI in the Supreme Court on the controversial issue, saying that it had hurt feelings of crores of people by raising questions on the existence of the characters of Ramayana.

The yoga guru, who has returned after a 77-day visit to the US, the UK and some African countries, said he was surprised and pained at the stance of the government. "Such a position raises questions on independence of thought of the government. It seems to be affected by the doctrine propagated by foreign rulers to negate existence of India's cultural icons," he said.

Terming the ASI stance as "shameful," he said even if the authorities did not want to treat Adam's Bridge as Ram Setu, they should not touch it for reasons of ecology and preservation of nature.

Swami Ramdev also took exception to the ban on yoga classes by two churhes in the UK, saying that the ancient Indian tradition was beneficial to the human body. "Calling yoga classes un-Christian is not an intelligent remark," he said, adding, that "a book of Bible" describes yoga as beneficial to the body.

On a court observation that the Bhagwad Gita should be recognised as Rashtriya Dharam Shastra, he said the Gita was a philosophy of life and provided answers to many unresolved questions. It talks about human values, he said.

The Swami, who was honoured by the assembly and Senate at New Jersey, said that India's GDP can be raised from nine per cent to 15 per cent if people were made self-dependent in matters of health.

"Nearly five lakh crore rupees that the government spends on health can be used to improve education and civic amenities and boost industry," he said.

Claiming that MNCs continue to make large volumes of money, he said there was need to make people aware against any exploitation.

He cited reports to say that Britishers had taken out of country wealth of over 250 lakh crore rupees.

The yoga guru, who called on President Pratibha Patil today, presented her "a symbol of Indian culture" on behalf of the Patanjali Yogpeeth.

Swami Ramdev has been invited to teach Yoga to the Parliamentarians in South Africa. He will leave for Nepal on September 21 and later visit Japan where he will hold discussions with some research institutions.

New Delhi, September 12
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday expressed concern over the condition of about 2,000 girls living on the streets of the Capital, including former top model Gitanjali Nagpal, and said it would intervene for their welfare if the government failed to support them.

A bench headed by Chief Justice M.K. Sarma asked the state government for steps it has taken to rehabilitate such people. "Inform us about the steps taken by the state government to rehabilitate these people," said the court.

Advocate Surat Singh informed the court that over 2,000 girls like Nagpal were spending their lives on the streets.

The court refuted the contention of the state government counsel that Nagpal was a drug addict, and said, "You (government) are wrong. Doctors said she was not a drug addict. We would like to look into the issue."

However, the court did not issue notice to the authorities for the response.

Nagpal, 32, who once walked the ramp for top designers, was found by a photojournalist begging in a posh South Delhi market a few days back.

The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) swung into action and took her to the VIMHANS Hospital, where doctors diagnosed her as suffering from fear psychosis.

Daughter of a navy officer, Nagpal graduated from Lady Shri Ram College. She left home in 1990 and took to modelling full-time. She married a German, who with their son is now based in Germany.—IANS

Bulandshahr, September 12
An 11-month-old baby boy of a property dealer, abducted about a month ago, was returned safely by the kidnappers with a written note around his neck. The child was left in Chhatari police station area yesterday. The Chhatari police have handed over the child to the Ahar police who have arrested some persons.

Shivam, son of property dealer Sheesh Ram Singh of Mohamadpur village, was abducted a day before Mahashivratri. Sheesh Ram Singh had lodged a report in Ahar police station naming four persons.

The police had taken into custody four persons Kalicharan, alias Kalia, of Rujpura, Dharampal of Bijora, Pappu and Vijay of Deep Pur.

However, the whereabouts of abducted Shivam could not be found. Police teams had been regularly raiding different places.

The baby was left near a barber's shop at Pandawal crossing under Chhatari police station

area. Pandawal police post cops immediately took charge of the baby and handed him over to police station.

SO Chhatari police station said a letter was found tied around baby's neck with this message: "The child is too young. We would have killed him had he been a little older."

The child's name and mobile number were written on the letter with the help of which police restored the baby to its parents.

Noida, September 12
Noida Authority has simplified the procedure for quick disposal of grant of various administrative approvals pertaining to properties. According to Chief Executive Officer Balvinder Kumar, the transferor and transferee will not be required to present themselves before the officials of Noida Authority for re-verification of signatures, since the signatures on transfer application are already verified by bankers before the form is submitted to the Noida Authority. Photograph of the transferor and transferee are also verified by the bankers.

Kumar said original documents such as allotment letter, possession certificates, lease deed, transfer memorandum and transfer deed will no longer be required to be enclosed with the transfer application to be handed over to the transferee by Noida. In place of this, transferee shall obtain these documents from the transferor and shall submit an affidavit in the prescribed proforma to that effect.

Various documents/enclosures required for grant of 15 administrative approvals such as transfer, transfer amongst blood relations, transfer on death of allottees to his legal heirs, transfer in favour of the power of attorney holders, co-allottee-ship, mortgage permission, co-lateral security, issue of duplicate papers, extension for construction/implementation of project, extension for execution of transfer deed/lease deed, mutation letter, change in constitution, functional letter, renting, permission and change/addition in project, etc. have been prepared and notified on the official website of the authority i.e. noidaauthorityonline.com for convenience of the allottees, clarified CEO.

A single transfer application form is being introduced for transfer of all such properties. At present, there are separate application forms for transfer of residential, group housing, housing, industrial, commercial and institutional plot/premises. Transfer application form issued in the past will remain valid till the date of their validity.

Noida CEO said a maximum limit of five working days has been fixed for grant of various administrative approvals. Effort will, however, be made to grant permission generally within three days.

Mortgage permission, permission co-lateral security, issuing duplicate papers, extension for execution of lease deed/transfer deed and change in project will be given on the same day.

All applications for grant of various approvals will be received in the respective department, such as residential plot, group housing, housing, industrial, commercial and institutional department.

The Dy GM/AGM concerned will depute an officer/office suptd. to scrutinize the applications at the time of their submission. Applications found complete in all respects along with the required enclosures will be received against issue of a receipt mentioning all relevant details.

A copy of the receipt will be stapled with the application also and permission letter given to the person, who submits the receipt to the official designated by DGM/AGM for despatch of such permission at prescribed time and date.

Charges applicable for grant of various administrative approvals are being given on website of the authority, which can be deposited by the allottee into accounts of Noida Authority against the prescribed head while submitting the application, CEO Balvinder Kumar added.

New Delhi, September 12
East district police claimed to have arrested one key autolifter Phire Singh and recovered six motorcycles from his instance.

While on a check post on the National Highway-24, the police signalled one motorcyclist to stop. Phire Singh stopped the motorcycle but subsequently, turned it back and tried to speed off.

The police chased him and asked him to establish the ownership of the vehicle. The alleged accused could not give a satisfactory answer.

New Delhi, September 12
After acquiring breweries and formula one brand abroad, Vijay Mallaya's UB Group is now out to promote an all-Indian rock band and has come forward to host a rock band competition in seven cities of the country.

The winner of the grand finale of DSP Black Rockilution, rock music competition, which is open to professional and semi-professional rock bands of the country would get a chance to cut their own album with the Sony BMG.

After Pune and Mumbai, the competition would come to Delhi for the regional finals on September 22 and the competition would take place at Tivoli Gardens.

Through the DSP Black Rockilution, the United Spirits Limited, part of the UB Group, is also looking at re-launching the brand in a new pack. Rockilution would be part of the aggressive outreach programme aimed at attracting the youth. Mathew Xavier, Business Head, United Spirits Limited (USL), sharing the growth plans for the brand, said, "DSP Black has the right balance of youthfulness and premium look, and therefore has a significant role in tapping new consumers in the segment.

Besides Delhi, the DSP Black Rockilution music competition would also be held at Pune, Mumbai, Ludhiana, Kolkata, Bangalore and Hyderabad over a month starting from Pune on September 14.

The grand finale is set to take place in Mumbai at the Hard Rock Café on October 14. Judging the bands across would be Gary Lawyer--the pioneer of rock music in India and Mahesh Tianikar--the lead guitarist for Indus Creed known for his cool image in concerts.

According to company officials, DSP Black is set to add several such youth talent promotion platforms in the next few years and become the symbol for status 
and fun.

New Delhi, September 12
The Diwan Chand Satyapal Aggarwal Imaging Research Centre (DCSAIRC) launched the PET.CT scanner here today. It is the first of its kind in Northern India, in the private sector. Dr Ajay Aggarwal, senior consultant radiologist, DCSAIRC said, "The result obtained from the PET.CT investigation, enable physicians to avoid missing opportunities in the treatment of cancer patients, whose cancer is at a nascent stage and, whose lives can increase to five or more years. The technology also enables experts to avoid operating patients, whose cancer is too advanced for surgery. Thus, PET.CT helps doctors to stage cancer and provide correct and cost effective treatment."

Dubbed as one of the deadliest diseases, cancer is the fourth largest killer in India. The PET.CT is crucial in determining the most appropriate treatment and needs a clear process of diagnosis. The commonest tool used for detecting cancer is CT scan or MRI, often followed by a biopsy.

Progresses in medical science have evolved an emerging technology known as PET.CT, which is far reaching and more accurate than CT scan or MRI, in indicating whether a patient's cancer has spread outside the diseased area or not.

The PET.CT can offer a differentiation between benign and malignant tumor unlike MRI or CT. Further, the Biograph PET.CT, with High Rez Platform, reveals the optimum resolution and better image definition in an unparalleled scanning time of 15 minutes.

Moreover, as each study consists of a body PET and CT scan, coupled with reporting by a qualified and experienced radiologist and nuclear medicine physician, in tandem with the diagnosis, paves way for successful management and treatment of the disease. 

New Delhi, September 12
The Ansal Institute of Technology, Gurgaon (AIT) had recently organised a five-day long yoga and meditation camp for its students, staff and faculty members on AIT campus. The programme was held in association with the SPIC-MACAY.

The camp was held under Yogacharya C.B. Singh from Delhi University. The camp aimed at educating students, staff and faculty members about the fundamental aspects of yoga and meditation.

The director of AIT, Prof M.P. Singh said, "The camp provides an opportunity to participants to discover the link between spiritual and social activism. Yoga concentrates on breathing techniques called pranayama, postures for body flexibility and alignment, and creating a higher consciousness level by harmonising the body and mind, for stress free living." According to C.B. Singh, "Yoga makes one feel better. Practising the postures, breathing exercises and meditation makes one healthy. Yoga helps in curing ailments. Research has proved that yoga helps to manage, control and cure anxiety, arthritis, asthma, back-pain, heart disease, stress and other diseases."