New Delhi, May 10
The ongoing acts of sealing by Municipal Council of Delhi (MCD) today came under heavy attack when a large number of traders sat on a Vyapari Dharna at MCD headquarters in Chandni Chowk under the banner of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT).

They condemned the ‘autocratic’ attitude of MCD officials. The traders held that while the highest court of the country has respected the provision of MCD Act, 1957, applicable for Delhi, the MCD itself has been violating statutory provisions of the Act in matter of sealing.

The protesting traders tied themselves with an iron chain and locks depicting Lut Raha Vyapari-Azadi Abhi Adhuri and shouted slogans against MCD. The trade leaders on dharna said that even after 150 years of freedom struggle, the traders in Delhi have been meted out the most barbaric treatment in the last two years.

“The MCD officials are carrying out sealing blindly and the political bosses of the state are acting like Dhritrashtra,” said a trader’s leader.

They further alleged that the sealing has given a tool in the hands of authorities to extort money from the traders and abetted corruption both in MCD and DDA.

The trade leaders said that it is ironical that on the eve of election, all political parties compete with one another to praise the role of trading community, but after the elections, they just give the cold-shoulder to the community.

The traders asked the MCD political bosses to ensure that the principle of natural justice and legal provisions should not be violated by MCD under any circumstances. They threatened to come on streets once again.

New Delhi, May 10
University teachers have predicted a major crisis in higher education if the UGC pay commission does not revise the pay scales and improve working conditions for teachers soon.

The Federation of Central University Teachers’ Association (FEDCUTA) executive will meet in the third week of June to review the progress of pay revision. If not found satisfactory, FEDCUTA may resort to agitation.

A FEDCUTA delegation met Prof G.K Chadha who heads the UGC’s Pay Review Committee (PRC) and demanded an early submission of recommendations.

Some of the scales submitted by FEDCUTA are for lecturer Rs 36,000, senior lecturer Rs 44,000, reader Rs 54,000 and professor Rs 67,000. Aditya Narayana Misra, president DUTA/FEDCUTA, announced this today.

The issues raised involve initial higher pay at entry level for lecturers and librarians, better facilities for academic advancement and research and career advancement schemes including professorship.

The delegation also emphasised that better working conditions and perks should be provided to retain talented teachers.

Perks like — making research grants more accessible to teachers, giving tax-free incentives to bear expenditure on books and computer peripherals, more flexible leave rules, 100% leave encashment, more attractive LTC schemes, better health scheme, adequate post-retirement benefits and educational support to staff children should be provided.

The FEDCUTA delegation pointed out that due to the increasing slackness of administrators, teaching had lately become a low-priority profession.

“We have begun losing teaching talent, as pay scales and working conditions for teachers are simply not attractive enough. This can create a crisis in education in future, as varsities will fail to attract the cream,” said Aditya Narayana Misra. “It is with a view to attracting and retaining this manpower that FEDCUTA has submitted the memorandum to the PRC,” added Misra.

He informed that the Centre had planned an expansion in higher education by introducing OBC quota. Moreover, it has planned to open 16 central universities, 14 world-class universities, 370 colleges in low GER districts, 8 IITs, 7 IIMs, 10 NITs and 20 IIITs.

New Delhi, May 10
Jai Bhagwan Goyal who left the Shiv Sena after Raj Thackeray’s attack on North Indians recently constituted Rashtrawadi Shiv Sena.

Speaking at the foundation ceremony of the party today, Goyal attacked Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and demanded a CBI probe his ‘anti-nationals’ links.

He condemned harassment of actor Amitabh Bachchan by the MNS. He questioned as to what had Raj Thackeray done for the welfare of Maharashtra or India.

“The conspiracy to divide India in the name of ‘Jai Maratha’ has been hatched by the Thackeray family. Raj Thackeray should be tried in court,” said Goyal.

Goyal gave details about his party’s manifesto and general policies in an hour-long speech. He said that his party will present a 21-point Hindu agenda to the public and will focus on issues related to Hindutva.

He alleged that some parties had used Hindutva to gain power, but for him Hindutva is a sacred and his party would never compromise on it.

Swami Sumedha Nandji Maharaj, Pithadhishwar Mehant Surendra Nath Avadhootji, Prafull Gadodia and Anil Arya attended the ceremony.

Ghaziabad, May 10
In spite of vaccinations, the breaking out of chicken pox has rung alarm bells in most districts of UP.

The situation is so serious that in the first four months of the year, some 38 people have lost their lives to the scourge with 700 patients presently under treatment in the state.

Medical authorities blame the frequent changes in weather for the increasing incidence of chicken pox.

According to director-general, Health Services, UP, Dr Rajinder Kumar, in spite of vaccination, chicken pox and khasra could not be completely contained. In addition to vaccination, maintenance of complete cleanliness and hygienic conditions was absolutely necessary.

In Ghaziabad district also, the incidence of chicken pox and measles is rapidly increasing with 100 patients affected by it.

In areas adjoining Delhi like Vasundhra, Indirapuram, Kaushambi, Vaishali, Surya Nagar, Chandra Nagar, Prahlad Garhi, Shahid Nagar, the number of patients of chicken pox and measles is also rising.

According to communicable disease cell, chicken pox and khasra have assumed a very serious proportion with over 700 patients under treatment and 38 persons having lost their lives in the first four months in 2008 in Uttar Pradesh.

Dr Kumar, however, said chicken pox and measles are not fatal diseases as such, but when it leads to pneumonia, high fever, and similar symptoms, it can turn into a fatal malady. Mostly the patients who succumb to it are children, the D-G, Health Services, said.

But according to unofficial sources, however, the figures of dead and patients of chicken pox and measles are many times higher than the figures dished out by the health authorities.

Arvind Panagriha offers the first major account of how this has come about and what more India must do to sustain its rapid growth and alleviate poverty.

New Delhi, May 10
The Leader of the Opposition and Member of Parliament L K Advani emphasized the need of inculcating moral and spiritual quotient in schoolchildren rather than laying stress on intelligence quotient only.

Speaking at the function to celebrate the Mahatma Hansraj Day at DAV Public School, Vasant Vihar, yesterday evening, Advani said, “DAV institutions can be distinguished from the other institutions of the country as they stress moral quotient among their students while the rest give more importance to intelligence quotient.”

He recognized that the DAV movement along with the spreading of education was also playing a significant role in nation building. Advani also gave away prizes to the meritorious students on the occasion.

In tribute to the founder member of DAV Movement ‘Mahatma Hansraj’, Arya Pradeshik Pratinidhi Sabha and DAV College Managing Committee (DACCMC) celebrate Mahatma Hansraj Day every year.

The programme began with the Vedic mantra recitation and lighting of lamp by the chief guest and other stalwarts of DAVCMC. A welcoming song was prepared by DAV Public School, Sreshtha Vihar for the occasion.

The main attraction of the day was the play presented by the students of DAV Darbari Lal School depicting the life and contributions of Mahatma Hansraj.

Earlier, Padamshree G P Chopra, president of DAVCMC in his welcoming speech paid homage to the founder of DAV movement Mahatma Hansraj.

Greater Noida, May 10
Soon an international airport, similar to Changi Airport in Singapore, may become a reality in Greater Noida.

Even as global players of airport construction are eyeing to win the Rs 3,505-crore project, a nine-member team of International Enterprise Singapore (IES) recently visited Greater Noida to survey the site earmarked for the proposed airport.

The team along with the Indian officials reviewed the area and also made a presentation pertaining to the project of the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA).

Led by Mike NG, the centre director and first secretary (Commercial) at Singapore Embassy in New Delhi, the team included Chong Lit Cheong, the CEO of International Enterprise Singapore.

The Singapore Airport Consortium (SAC), formed in 2004, has been instrumental in the construction, development and management of Changi Airport, and is the subsidiary of IES, said Lalit Srivastav, chairman and chief executive officer, GNIDA.

“As soon as we receive a formal letter of approval from the civil aviation ministry, tenders will be floated. Thereafter, bids will be invited and the best man will win the project. Since many other projects such as the Formula one racing track is also linked with the Taj Airport, we will try to complete the project in the minimum possible time,” added chairman Srivastav.

The new airport will be 72 km from Indira Gandhi International Airport and would serve as second airport of the national Capital.

An area of 2300 hectare has been earmarked for Taj International Airport proposed at Javer in Greater Noida. M/s T. Ram Bole Consultants of Hyderabad have already been assigned the responsibility of designing the Taj airport.

New Delhi, May 10
The South Delhi police is probing the possible involvement of a family driver in the murder of teenager Sanchit Sachdeva. Sanchit, 17, a student of Delhi Public School, was found dead at his Lodhi Colony house yesterday.

His head was smashed into the wall several times. The driver had reportedly gone missing hours before the incident and has not been seen since. The Zen Estillo car of the family is also missing.

However, the police is also probing other angles of the case. According to the police sources, love, betrayal or rivalry among friends could be a motive behind the murder.

“Many times rivalry amongst teenaged friends leads to such crimes. The killer in the case does not appear to be a professional. But, there was hatred for the victim as his head was banged against the wall repeatedly,” told a police official. However, Sanchit’s parents have ruled out any such enmity.

New Delhi, May 10
The police yesterday rescued Muskan, 3, who was kidnapped from the Nanankpura area of R.K Puram on May 6 from Nagor district of Rajasthan.

Ravi, a contractor known to the family has been arrested in connection. Muskan went missing from a park where she had gone with her grandmother. A missing case was lodged at R.K Puram police station.

Ravi allegedly allured her to buy an ice cream. He told the police that he had kidnapped the girl for revenge, as her uncle Jagdish owed some money to him.

He was not returning the amount. However, Jagdish claimed that he did not owe any money to Ravi and, in fact it was the other way round. Muskan’s parents have migrated from UP. They iron clothes to earn a living.

Greater Noida, May 10
In view of frequent fatal accidents on the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway, including the latest accident in which two brilliant students of Modern School and promising sportspersons, Angad Singh and Neha Nissar had lost their lives on Saturday last, the traffic police has decided to monitor speed of vehicles on Noida-Greater Noida Expressway, besides installing closed circuit television cameras on the 23 km-long stretch of the expressway.

“Speed monitors would be installed on the expressway and regular checks would be done to keep a tab on the speed of the vehicles. Around 45 persons have been killed on this expressway,” said S. P. (Traffic) Ajay Sahdev.

“CCTV cameras installed on the entire expressway will automatically force the drivers to stick to speed limits on this stretch,” said Sahdev.

Meanwhile, the Kasna police has lodged an FIR against the truck driver for parking his vehicle along the road, which had caused the death of the two students.

Kasna police station officer Gulzar Ahmad said, “FIR has been registered against the unknown driver of the truck. He had not been arrested till late on Monday.”

Angad and Neha had appeared for their class 12 exams this year. Angad was the captain of the Modern School athletics team. Neha was also the member of the 400-meter relay team at the junior SAF Games held in Sri Lanka.

The ill-fated car was moving at a speed of over 120 km per hour when it rammed into a light commercial vehicle stationed along the road.

Transporters and industrial associations blamed the commercial tax (sales tax) check post on the Expressway for causing several fatal accidents. The associations have demanded that the check post be shifted to another spot.

Transporters said drain behind the check post be covered and the check post pushed back.