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NHRC fails to provide succour: Kashmiri Pandits Secularism means respect for all religions: Patil
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Delhi has coldest morning
of season
Call to ensure woman’s right
Bomb scare stops Shatabdi Express twice
Good response to traffic adalat
Two get lighter jail term under plea bargaining
Razia Sultan’s tomb cries for attention
Delhi Tourism to release calendar
Student missing for week
Politics has ceased to be politics: George
Raise grant for NCRPB: Deepender
23 cops suspended
Rs 4 lakh looted
Two drug peddlers held
14 trucks bringing goods without tax seized
Artscape
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NHRC fails to provide succour: Kashmiri Pandits
New Delhi, December 9 On the eve of the International Human Rights Day, a rights group, Roots In Kashmir (RIK), held a protest rally in the national Capital, bringing to light the “injustices perpetrated on the community”. Many Kashmiri Pandits were driven out of their homeland in 1990, a year after separatist insurgency broke out in the Muslim majority Kashmir Valley, with armed groups demanding separation from India on religious lines. “The NHRC has ceased to exist for us. We have submitted memorandums, fought cases and even met all senior bureaucrats and officials to apprise them of the situation, but there has been no result till date,” Neeru Kaul, an RIK activist, told IANS. “It has completely failed to address the grievances of the Pandit community, which is living in its 18th year of exile from its homeland.” She said that despite cases of serious nature pending against the erstwhile militant commanders, Yasin Malik and Bitta Karate, they continue to roam enjoying “support from the Indian government”. On the other hand, “The Pandits continue to live the life of refugees in their own land”, said Kaul. “Astonishingly, the NHRC and the home ministry of India have in a written communication against a Right To Information application said that they don’t have any data on terrorist Bitta Karate of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, while it is a known fact that there are cases pending against him in TADA and CBI courts,” said Aditya Koul of RIK, who had filed the application around two months back. “In the reply, the home ministry said that they have no information on the number of Pandits killed in the Kashmir Valley since 1989,” Koul said. The group had equally harsh words for global human rights groups like -Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. “A blind attitude towards the ethnic cleansing and genocide of the Pandit community speaks volumes of the discrimination against the Kashmiris,” said Koul. The rallyists are demanding that an enquiry commission be set to probe the reasons for Kashmiri Pandits’ exodus from the valley and that the trial of former militant commanders like Bitta Karate and Yasin Malik be initiated. They also said that exiled Pandits be declared as Internally Displaced People (IDP) and given succour according to the UN norms as well as better rehabilitation facilities for the people living in relief camps in Jammu and Delhi. — IANS
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Secularism means respect for all religions: Patil
New Delhi, December 9 Mr Patil was the chief guest at the meeting organised by the Delhi Diocese of the Mar Thoma Church to felicitate Dr Philipose Mar Chrysostom on the 50th year of his episcopacy and the 90th year of his life and to welcome the new metropolitan of the church, Dr Joseph Mar Thoma. The minister complimented the church for the pioneering efforts made in the field of education and housing for the poor. Speaking on the occasion, Swami Agnivesh said Kerala was a unique state in that it alone had a larger number of women than men. It was also the only state where child labour was non-existent as all children went to schools. He compared the state to several north Indian states where female foeticide was threatening the demographic balance. Archbishop of Delhi Vincent Concessao, Bishop Pathros Mar Osthatheos, Bishop Jacob Mar Barnabas, M.S. Sakariah Ramban, P.J. Kurian, MP, Bishop Karam Masih, noted film director Blessy, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister T.K.A. Nair and Haryana DGP John V. George, among others, felicitated the two bishops. The keys of two houses built for the poor were handed over to the beneficiaries by Bishop Chrysostem. The church also honoured 17 people from various walks of life with the “Navati award” on the occasion. While thanking the gathering, Bishop Chrysostem, whose name means “the golden-tongued”, said the Christians had a commitment to serve the people of the area where they lived. God had a purpose in dispersing them all over the world. The purpose could be met only if every Marthomite gave back to society what God had given him. The secretary of the Delhi diocese Rev Jayan Thomas welcomed the guests and Bishop Barnabas proposed a vote of thanks. The meeting ended with a music concert by Fr M.P. George.
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Delhi has coldest morning
of season
New Delhi, December 9 The minimum temperature dropped by 0.5 degree Celsius at 5 a.m. from Saturday’s 7.3 degrees, an India Metrological Department (IMD) official said. Last year’s temperature on this day was 9 degrees Celsius, the Met department said. “The runway visibility was very decent today and flights took off as per schedule at the airport,” said Arun Arora, spokesperson of the Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL). On Saturday, there was panic at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) following an Air Traffic Control (ATC) radar failure. About 40 flights were delayed, creating a backlog that led to acute congestion in the air and serious safety concerns. The problem started when one of the three radars of the ATC started malfunctioning. It took 45 minutes to fix it, but that was enough to throw the entire air traffic to and from IGI airport off gear. Two international flights were also delayed for four hours. Weathermen have forecast that the minimum temperature will hover around seven degrees Celsius in the next two days. The Capital could experience mainly dry weather with clear sky and a drop of around two-three degrees Celsius in night temperatures in the next two days, Met officials said. — IANS |
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Call to ensure woman’s right
to live
New Delhi, December 9 “With such high rates of female foeticides even today, we, as a society must realise this is the right we must focus on first. Every girl child has the right to live and she should be guaranteed that right,” Kumari, who is also the president of Women Power Connect, an NGO working on women empowerment, told IANS. The International Human Rights Day marks the end of 16 days of activism to eliminate violence against women being observed by the US Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) along with other partner organisations in India. The event started with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, observed on November 25. Ranjana Kumari added that along with other partner organisations, they are planning on a National Shame Day, early next year, to focus on increasing cases of violence against woman in the country. “Whether it’s Nandigram, Godhra or Guwahati, women have always been the target. And all the while bystanders simply laugh or look on, showing no sympathy whatsoever. “This attitude is shameful and that’s why we will observe a National Shame Day, next year throughout the country,” Kumari said. On the occasion of International Human Rights Day, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is organising awareness programmes and events, among which there will be book releases on the subject of human rights. This year UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will launch a special campaign designed to help people to learn more about their basic rights. Ban and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour will issue special messages inviting people around the world to create their own public information campaigns. A campaign logo, fact sheets and posters have been developed to give communities and organisations the inspiration and tools to get their campaigns started. The human rights day was first observed in 1948 when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was signed in Paris enshrining every individual’s fundamental rights and freedom. —
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Bomb scare stops Shatabdi Express twice
Ghaziabad, December 9 GRP was informed by the railway control room in the morning that a bomb had reportedly been placed on the Delhi Lucknow Shatabadi Express train. The train was stopped at 6.45 a.m. at the station and subjected to a thorough inspection. GRP and RPF jawans undertook a thorough search of all the train’s compartments. Even RPF dog squad was pressed into service to smell any explosives in passengers’ baggage. But no bomb or any suspicious person was detected in the search operations. In the evening also when the same train was coming from Lucknow to New Delhi, similar announcements of bomb on the train were made at Ghaziabad station. GRP and RPF jawans undertook same drill all over again, but luckily the information came out to be false. |
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Good response to traffic adalat
New Delhi, December 9 The lok adalat was organised by traffic police and the Delhi Legal Service Authority (DLSA). “We have received a very good response from people and are expecting good numbers on Dec 16 too, when challans of the commercial vehicles will also be taken up,” said DLSA secretary Sangeeta Dhingra. According to DLSA, a total of 12,892 cases from all four district courts in the Capital were disposed of. “The Rohini court, which had the highest disposal rate of pending challans, generated a good amount of revenue too and emerged as the clear winner,” added Dhingra. As many as 3,987 cases were disposed of at the Rohini court that generated Rs.340,885 in revenue. At the Patiala House court as many as 3,146 cases generated revenue of Rs 232,650, followed by the Karkardooma court (3,001 cases) and the Tis Hazari (2,758 cases). The lok adalat was last held in September, in which the courts had settled 43,202 cases of traffic fines and the police had collected over Rs.6.3 million. “We have organised the lok adalat to clear the backlog of over 200,000 traffic challans. We have chosen Sunday so that everyone finds time to pay fine for traffic violation. It is a good bargain for any motorist who wants to settle his notice through lok adalat,” said joint commissioner of police (Traffic) Qamar Ahmed. The traffic police have also arranged for providing information on notices pending against a vehicle via SMS. To know the status of a traffic case, mobile users can type ‘N’ followed by space and registration number of the vehicle and send it to 50100.—IANS
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Two get lighter jail term under plea bargaining
New Delhi, December 9 “That the prosecution has no objection in case both the accused are held guilty and are sentenced to imprisonment of three years and nine months, I am prima facie satisfied that the charges against both the said accused are well-founded,” metropolitan magistrate Vidya Prakash said.The concept of ‘plea bargaining’ was inserted in the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) through an amendment in 2005 under which appeal cannot be filed in superior courts against a mutually arrived formula between the accused and the prosecution for reducing the burden of cases.Both, along with Rana and three others, were charged with entering into conspiracy to jail break and harbouring Rana and resisting the police to arrest them. Further, Thakur and Aggarwal were charged with forgery and cheating the jail authorities by posing as constable and advocate. Their counsel Ashutosh Bhardwaj, had moved an application in the court for plea bargaining, stating that the accused had remained in custody for more than three years in the case. — PTI
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Razia Sultan’s tomb cries for attention
New Delhi, December 9 The tomb is one of the two stone slabs on a raised platform, unprotected by a roof. But for the fact that a part of the premises is being used as a mosque, the structure would have long ago fallen victim to commercial interests, local people say. Pigeons flock to the platform, attracted by the clay bowls of water and bird-seed provided by well meaning devotees to the mosque. However, the birds end up dirtying the premises with their droppings while rats have managed to burrow holes in the stone slab. Plastic water tanks storing water for devotees’ ablutions, a shed-like structure covered in blue plastic sheet and electrical wiring further mar the ambience of the grave. This historical structure is under the charge of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). However, except for two stone slabs in which a brief history of the monument is etched in English and Hindi and a warning not to damage this already ruined structure, there is not much that the ASI has done for its upkeep. Asked about the deteriorating condition of the tomb, Delhi circle ASI head A K Sinha said, ‘’The area where the tomb is located is very congested. The structure has become a victim of modern habitations. It is very difficult to maintain archaeological sites in these crowded old Delhi localities.’’ ‘’The local people have turned the structure into place of worship. We do not want to evict them keeping in view their religious sentiments. However, we have tried our best to keep the premises of the tomb clean, worth the status of the queen,’’ Sinha said. ‘’We have provided a wooden cupboard for the imam of the mosque and the namazis to keep their belongings in it, which otherwise used to be scattered around,’’ he added. Nominated by her father Sultan Iltutmish as the next Sultan of Slave dynasty, Razia ascended the Delhi throne in 1236 AD and ruled successfully for three years. However, as a result of a conspiracy she was killed in 1240 AD at Kaithal in present-day Karnal district in Haryana while suppressing a revolt by one of her nobles. It is said that she was even buried there. But according to another version, her body was brought to this place by her brother and successor Behram Shah who built the tomb. On any plans to develop the structure, Sinha said,’’The ASI has plans to develop such areas into heritage sites but it has its handicaps. The area around the tomb belongs to private owners and not the government due to which we cannot bring it fully under control.’’ Mohd Safdar, who stays in the mosque, said, ‘’The structure is occasionally visited by the government officials on duty or a handful of foreigners.’’ ‘’The structure is deteriorating day by day. We can just clean it but cannot repair it as it is a government protected structure,’’ he said. — IANS
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Delhi Tourism to release calendar
New Delhi, December 9 These are the etching liner presentation of important activities around the monuments, associated with the 150 years of India’s First Freedom struggle. Students of the College of Arts, New Delhi have sketched the 12-sheet black & white calendar. The size of the wall calendar is 16.5” x 24” while, the diary’s size is 5¾” x 4”. The calendar and the diary cover some of the important centres of the Capital, related to the freedom struggle. Salimgarh Fort, Lal
Quila, Flag Staff Tower and Humanyun’s Tomb are some of the significant places that are covered. The calendar’s price is Rs 150 while, the diary costs Rs 100. They will be available at the outlets of Delhi Tourism at Dilli
Haat, INA and Central Reservation office at Coffee Home, Baba Kharak Singh
Marg. |
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Student missing for week
Greater Noida, December 9 His father, Ram Naresh has lodged an FIR with the Kasna police station. Ram Naresh had accused a student from another engineering college behind the missing of his son. But, the police has registered just a missing case. No trace has been made about the boy yet. Ram Naresh said that Himanshu had told the family that he was going to meet a friend of his classmate, Chetan. Later on December 3, the family received a phone call at around 7 pm. The phone was abruptly disconnected. They were said that Himanshu was captivated. Next day, when Ram Naresh went to his son’s college, the college manager said that he might have run away, fearing the forthcoming exams. According to IIMT’s director R.K. Jaitly, Himanshu’s friends have said that he was afraid of the exams and, therefore, could have run away. |
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Politics has ceased to be politics: George
New Delhi, December 9 “Politics has ceased to be politics. It has reached where it should not have. It is nothing but money now,” NDA convenor George Fernandes said last evening after releasing a book titled ‘We the People of India: A Story of Gangland Democracy’, written by controversial author Maloy Krishna Dhar and published by Vitasta Publishing, here at the Oxford Book Store. Dhar, who had stirred a controversy in the Indian establishment with his book on IB secrets, in his present book, has tried to camouflage his facts and characters in the form of a fiction. Speaking on the occasion, Dhar insisted that it is not the desire to attack one family or character that he has written the book. “I have tried to depict (through the book) the ugly character of the democratic system and manipulative skills of the major players,” he said “It is an attack not on one family but all families that are trying to pass family rule as democracy. There may be strong resemblance to some of the prominent characters dead or living… it may be purely coincidental,” he added.
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Raise grant for NCRPB: Deepender
New Delhi, December 9 In a letter to the PM, he said that the NCRPB was facing some financial hindrances to carry out its task of developing the entire NCR region on the lines of NCT of Delhi to decongest the national capital. Pointing out that grant for board at Rs 100 crore for 2007-08 was meagre, he said NCRPB was used for financing basic infrastructure development projects such as roads, water supply as also human resource development. “A 100 crore allocation is too small to be meaningful,” he said. The MP said the board has so far sanctioned loan amount of Rs 3,902 crore for various projects by leveraging and recycling the annual plan grants received by it. He said pressure on the Board was rising to finance projects in the 11th Plan. “One way for the Board is to raise financial resources to the tune of Rs 11,000 crore through market borrowing,” he said. Suggesting that NCRPB be allowed to issue Capital Gain Bond or Infrastructure Bonds, he said these should qualify as Capital Gain Exemption Bonds under 54 EC of the Income Tax Act. The MP said NCRPB was exempted from paying income tax till March 2002 in accordance with clause (20) A under section 10 or Income Tax Act 1961 but with the omission of the said clause by the Finance Act 2002, the NCRPB has become liable for paying income tax w.e.f. April, 2003. He said as a result NCRB has to pay back around Rs 35 crore as income tax from its annual plan grant of Rs 100 crore.
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23 cops suspended
Noida , December 9 The SSP had made surprise visit to various police stations in G.B. Nagar district, yesterday evening. He was told that most of the absent police personnel were on leave. Later, it was found that some of the policemen had gone on leave, but had failed to report on time. While, others were just missing during the duty hours. The suspended policemen are - SI Rakesh Kumar from Sector - 20 police station, SI Anurag Prakash Dixit from Sector - 24 police station, SIs Udey Singh and Mahipal Singh from Kasna police station and SI Dharam Pal Singh from Jarcha police station. While police constables Balbir Singh and Seraminder from Sector – 20 police station, Suresh Chander from Sector – 39 police station and Prem Chand from Dankore police station have been suspended. |
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Rs 4 lakh looted
Greater Noida, December 9 Delhi’s Corporate Comfort Company is having a house keeping and labour contract with Denso India here. Two cashiers, Pradeep and Deepak of Corporate Comfort Co were carrying Rs 4 lakh that they had withdrawn from the PNB. When the duo crossed Surajpur town, four robbers on two bikes started chasing them. Near Devli village, the robbers tried to snatch the bag containing the cash from them. Pradeep accelerated his bike, but the robbers hit their bike near a petrol pump and both Pradeep and Deepak fell on the road. The robbers sped away with the amount. It may be recalled that a year ago, two bikers had robbed a mobile company dealer of Rs one lakh. |
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Two drug peddlers held
New Delhi, December 9 The suspect was living in Tilak Nagar, after he had shifted his base from Mumbai. In another such case, the Lahori Gate police arrested a woman drug peddler, Sultana, 25, near a transformer in the Tilak Nagar area. Four grams of smack has been recovered from her possession. She was arrested on the instance of an informer. |
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14 trucks bringing goods without tax seized
Noida, December 9 The goods being transported were seized in a special checking by a mobile team of trade tax authorities near Sector-62, Kalindi Kunj, DND flyover and Sector-14-A. Assistant commissioner, Mobile Squad, M.K. Shukla, said that the vehicles were loaded with electronic goods worth Rs 12.30 lakh. The goods were being transported without Form-31 in the vehicles. At DND flyover footwear and readymade garments were seized. The goods were without proper documents and being sold without entry into account books. Near Sector-14-A, goods, cement and aluminium sections worth Rs 1.60 lakh were being brought. In Sector-62, MM pipes were seized. No tin number was mentioned in the bill. In another vehicle cloth worth Rs 1.54 lakh was seized. It belonged to an unregistered trader who had to deposit over Rs 21,000 to get it released. At Kalindi Kunj, tiles worth Rs 1.77 lakh were seized. |
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Artscape
New Delhi, December 9 Namaste Israel was founded by David Nigerkar, aiming to enrich the Israeli culture with the diversity of Indian music, song and dance, while putting emphasis on a high professional level. The company has become renowned amongst the local Indian community in Israel and the Embassy of India in Israel. The members of the group are of Indian origin. Shalom Ashdod is a folk dance group which brings the diversity of the people of Israel and their cultural roots and heritage. The dance combines elements from the Arabic Debke, to Hasidic Dance, to Yemenite steps, to Polish Polka dance, etc. Together, Shalom Namaste is providing the audience with a unique experience depicting the large cultural variety of Israel, the contribution of the Indian community to Israeli culture and the strong ties between the two countries. “Rhythm of Colours” Gallerie 6 Treasure here is presenting “Rhythm of Colours”, an exhibition of paintings of 16 contemporary artists of India from December 7 to December 15 at the Lounge and Bar of the InterContinental Eros, Nehru Place. Gallerie 6 Treasure stresses the technical and aesthetic quality of every piece of art, making sure each artwork at the Gallery stands the test of time, a spokesman claimed. Paintings of US scholar
The American Center here is hosting an exhibition of paintings of US Fulbright scholar Carol Reed from December 7 to December 14. The paintings have been inspired by American and Indian subjects. Rudraksh, a
composition in Kathak
The India International Centre (IIC) is hosting Rudraksh, a choreographic composition in Kathak by two local artistes, Moumala Nayak and Monisa Nayak at the Centre’s auditorium on December 13. Both of them are the disciples of Pt. Birju Maharaj and Guru Rajendra Gangani. Recent works of Asit Patnaik
Chawla Art Gallery here is also hosting an exhibition of the recent works of artist Asit Patnaik from December 9 to December 16. According to critics, Asit has always been intrigued by the complexities of the human predicament but it has taken him years of experimentation with form to evolve a unique language in which he frames his fleeting observations. According to Asit, “Till today, I am still as preoccupied with the texture and the background of my paintings, on which I mount my two representative figures—one male and the other female.” “Shades of
Indigo II”
Raj Creations at the Hauz Khas village here is holding a unique exhibition entitled, “Shades of Indigo II” showcasing the creations of designer Sunaina Suneja and artist Alka Mathur. Sunaina has been obsessed with Indigo which she claims has captured the mindscape of the people in different parts of the world. The exhibition is on till December 8. Cultural
extravaganza
In an ambitious attempt to establish the country as a global soft power, Prasiddha Foundation and Forum For Art Beyond Borders are jointly presenting a cultural extravaganza, the Delhi International Arts Festival (DIAF) from December 7 to December 23. The event will be flagged off from the precincts of the Asia’s largest prison, the Tihar Jail here and will culminate with an evening of ghazals in the heart of Chandni Chowk, the source of Capital’s cultural matrix. Well-known national and international artistes are scheduled to perform during the festival which will include musical concerts, film festivals, art shows, folk dances and theatre performances. Exhibition of art works of Broota
The Vadhera Art Gallery here is holding an exhibition of art works of artist Rameshwar Broota from December 8 to December 18. Rameshwar Broota is one of the few Indian artists whose works are both stylistically and substantially powerful. Works of Andhra artists
Gallerie Nvya here is holding “Dakshinayan”, showcasing the works of 32 artists from Andhra Pradesh from December 9 to December 31. The Gallerie periodically explores the talent from various parts of the country in order to expose it to the public at large. The Canvas Art Gallery here is holding, “Prem Rehasyam”, an exhibition of the recent works of artist Poonam Kohli from December 8 to December 14. For victims of tsunami
The Hungarian Information and Cultural Centre here is presenting an exhibition of photographs by Hungarian photo artist, Pauliu Normantas from December 10 to January 4. Entitled “People and Temple”, the exhibition is dedicated to the 2004 victims of tsunami. |
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