New Delhi, October 4
UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, distributing provisional certificates to RWAs of unauthorised colonies at Chhatrasal Stadium, today said that the Delhi government had proved to be a responsible and successful agency. It has strived hard to change scenario of the national Capital during its tenure of 10 years. 

Addressing thousands of Congress activists including representatives of RWAs of unauthorised colonies, Sonia Gandhi described that distribution of provisional certificates for authorisation of unauthorised colonies was a historic moment. This step of the government would pave the way for planned development and it would go a long way in making Delhi a city of international standard as far as basic amenities are concerned. 

Distributing certificates to representatives of 11 unauthorized colonies, she stated that the decision of regularization of unauthorized colonies had brought satisfaction to around 50 lakh residents of such colonies as they are no more afraid of demolitions or sealing.

Remaining representatives of the RWAs were distributed certificates by the officials of the department concerned.

The UPA chairperson congratulated residents of unauthorized colonies and stated that their houses constructed with their hard-earned income have now become safe and secure. 

She complimented Delhi government on making provision of Rs 2,800 crore for executing developmental works in unauthorized colonies. 

“Our governments are committed to Aam Admi and have been fulfilling promises,” Gandhi said. 

She described finalization of nuclear deal was in the best interest of nation. It would accelerate pace of development and prove to be beneficial to farmers, industrialists and all other sections of society.   

Union urban development minister Jaipal Reddy who was also present on the occasion, stated that Delhi had witnessed difficult times during last three years. The urban development ministry issued guidelines of regularization within 24 hours after notification issued by the government as per provisions of Master Plan of Delhi-2021. 

The cabinet decided to regularize more than 1,500 colonies in one go which has no parallel. 

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit stated that process of regularization was irreversible as it had removed all apprehensions of uncertainty and demolitions. She further stated that certain elements were trying to create confusion as they were not interested in development. She cautioned people against their mischievous and misleading campaign. 

She said that the residents of unauthorized colonies had so far remained deprived of the fruits of development. Now developmental works in unauthorized colonies including construction of roads, drains, sanitation, water supply, streetlighting, sewerage are being executed on war-footing. 

Provisional certificates were issued to all present representatives of unauthorized colonies. Ten counters were set up for the purpose. 

The union government notified regulations for regularization of unauthorized colonies in Delhi on March 24, 2008. 

New Delhi, October 4
A large number of farmers of Kanjhawala village protested at Chhatrasal Stadium where Sonia Gandhi was delivering a speech before the distribution of provisional certificate to RWAs of unauthorised colonies.

The farmers raised slogans against Sheila Dikshit-led Congress government in Delhi just five minutes after Sonia Gandhi started her speech.

Protesters raised slogans, “Sheila Dikshit murdabad”, “Sheila Dikshit hai hai” and “Dilli sarkar hai hai”.

Around 10,000 Congress workers including representatives of RWAs were present in the stadium. When Sonia Gandhi entered the stadium, Congress workers and others were silent. The Congress workers became tense just after the farmers raised slogans against the government and the Chief Minister. Sheila Dikshit looked at the protesters to find out who they were as it was unexpected.

Delhi Pradesh Youth Congress activists stood up to silence the protestors sensing that they were BJP supporters. They lifted chairs and a few of them even threw the chairs at the protestors though nobody was injured.

As the youth activists were rushing towards the protestors to fight with them, senior leaders of the Congress came in between to control both groups. Security personnel were deployed inside and outside the stadium.

Farmers had also protested during the monsoon session of Delhi Assembly demanding for an increased compensation of their land acquired by the government.

Naresh Dabas, one of the leaders of farmers, said that farmers protested to draw attention of Sonia Gandhi towards their demands. The rate of land compensation given by the government is still less than the market rate, he said.

New Delhi, October 4
Former union minister Vijay Goel and all India general secretary of the BJP along with a large number of BJP activists were arrested from near Chhatrasal Stadium where they protested against Sheila Dikshit-led Congress government in Delhi. He claimed that distribution of provisional certificates for authorisation of unauthorised colonies was a fraud.

Later, he along with his supporters was released.

In the leadership of Vijay Goel, the BJP took out a procession of tableau of Sheila Dikshit from Burari. The procession culminated at Chhatrsal Stadium. The tableau showed that Sheila Dikshit was giving lollipop to RWAs of the unauthorised colonies in the name of provisional certificates.

The procession was interrupted by the police and Goel was arrested with hundreds of BJP workers. Prominent among them were MLA Jai Bhagwan Agarwal, Mohan Singh Bisht, ex-MLA Rajendra Gupta, corporators Gaurav Khari, Ram Kishan Banswal, Surender Chaudhary, Poonam Bhati, Rohtas Singh, Madhav Prasad, Praveen Jain and district president Neel Daman Khatri.

They were taken to Mouris Nagar police station where they were released.

Criticising the government, Goel said that farmers who demanded for increase of compensation rate for their land acquired by the government were thrashed by the police.

He said that the Supreme Court issued standing instructions to the Delhi government on September 16, 2008 that it will have to seek prior approval of the court before issuing provisional certificates. The court could take cognizance and initiate “contempt of court” proceedings against the government for organizing the Sonia-Sheila charade of distributing provisional certificates, which had no legal sanctity.

New Delhi, October 4
A fortnight after two suspected terrorists were killed in a shootout here, a former BBC broadcaster who now teaches at the Jamia Millia Islamia, said transparency in the investigation process was required to win back the trust of Muslims. According to him, a sense of unease has engulfed the community.

“I have never before seen such unease among the Muslim community like in the past few weeks. They feel wrongly projected by the media and feel they are on the radar of suspicion of the investigating agencies. This is true even among educated Muslims, which is alarming,” M. Obaid Siddiqui said at a meeting called by the Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ).

The meet was specifically meant to analyse the role of the media in reporting serious issues like the Jamia Nagar shootout on September 19 in which suspected terrorists and a Delhi police inspector were killed.

Siddiqui, a professor of mass communication who has been a broadcaster with All India Radio and BBC, said the language used by the media in reporting the incident was “uncalled for”.

“In the hurry to report fast and break news, there is a tendency to hype the news. Some of the media didn’t use prefixes like ‘alleged’ in front of names of those arrested and killed. Why? The same press, which refused to buy the Aarushi murder theory of the investigating agencies and raised questions, seemed to be believing whatever was being told to them in these cases,” he said.

DUJ president S.K. Pande, who released an interim report after scanning the reportage by various media and visits to the area, said verification of facts is quite often overlooked by reporters these days.— IANS

Noida, October 4
The information that bombs had been placed in two banks and another building in Noida’s posh market caused panic in Sector-18 market on Friday evening.

Someone had through two phone calls informed the police control room that four bombs each had been placed in two banks and a building in Sector-18.

Teams of police and local intelligence units immediately reached Sector-18. Banks and the building in question were vacated. In over an hour’s search operations, no explosive was found on the premises.

The SSP said they are investigating the telephone number from which the call was made. Police told the market association and all others to remain alert.

A youth is believed to have called Noida police control room that four bombs had been placed in ICICI Bank in Sector-18.

The caller identified himself as Salim. A serious view of the information was taken and SP City Ashok Tripathy reached Sector-18 with his team. After about 12 minutes, Salim again called up police control room saying four bombs each had been placed in HDFC Bank and adjoining Fortune building also.

Now two circle officers (DSPs) with another police team, anti-terrorist squad and local intelligence unit also left for Sector-18.

Taking the second call seriously, the SSP ordered that all banks in Sector-18 be searched. The search operations continued till late in the evening.

The SSP said police was investigating the telephone number from which calls had been made. The number went dead immediately after the calls had been made, he added.

New Delhi, October 4
Mourning the tragic murder of Headlines Today journalist Soumya Vishwanathan, mediapersons today launched a ‘Justice for Soumya’ campaign, demanding the early arrest of her murderers and safer roads for working women of the capital.

At a prayer meeting held at the Press Club of India (PCI) today, a resolution was passed demanding investigation in the murder of the young journalist at a faster pace.

A signature campaign was also launched conveying the anguish and grief of mediapersons who wanted that justice should be done to the journalist. The resolution would later be presented to PM Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Home Minister Shivraj Patil.

Launching a scathing attack on Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit for making an “insensitive and atrocious statement” blaming Soumya for inviting trouble by becoming ‘’adventurous’’ for being alone on the road at 0300 hrs, the media fraternity wanted an unconditional apology and better policing and security for commuters on Delhi roads. They demanded a safer Delhi for women and curbing rising crime in the capital.

Indian women’s press corps general secretary T K Rajalakshmi, while condemning Dikshit for making such comment, demanded more accountability and responsibility of media organisations in providing safe night drop facilities.

Souyma’s friends, colleagues and former teachers remembered her vivacious, friendly and fearless personality and vowed that they would not sit back till justice was given to her. Mediapersons from various publications and electronic media converged in large numbers to express solidarity with Soumya’s family and demand for justice.

New Delhi, October 4
The Delhi High Court today rejected the bail plea of Sanjeev Nanda, grandson of former naval chief S.M. Nanda, who was sentenced to five years’ rigorous imprisonment for mowing down six persons in BMW hit-and-run case of 1999.

“I am of the view that the applicant (Nanda) does not deserve suspension of sentence during the pendency of the case,” Justice Kailash Gambhir said.

The Court, however, was of the opinion that Nanda’s appeal challenging his conviction and quantum of sentence be heard on a day-to-day basis for early disposal of the case.

Nanda filed the bail plea in the high court following his conviction by the trial court on September 5.

Faridabad, October 4
In the wake of increase in terrorist attacks across the country and two recent incidents of hoax bomb scare in the city, the district police has launched several drives to prevent such incidents and keep an eye on sensitive areas and notorious criminals.

In order to make policing more effective, the district police has divided the entire district into 141 beats, which will be headed by a constable each.

Further, the authorities have decided to create vigilante groups in colonies and markets, which will act as a bridge between the public and the police by providing details about crime and criminals in their areas.

District police chief Srikant Jadav informed that Residents Welfare Associations and market organisations have been asked to give names of residents capable of working as volunteers. The names submitted would be screened before handing over assignments to them, Jadav added.

At the same time the police has also launched a massive exercise of building up a databank of details of house owners and tenants in the district.

According to Jadav, collection of such data is a massive exercise but work on it has already begun.

Jadav also assured that police presence in public places would be strengthened and closed circuit cameras installed in markets and other public places.

New Delhi, October 4
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and the India branch of Orlando-based American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute (AH&LEI) have recently tied up to start a School of Tourism and Hospitality Service Sectoral Management (SOTHSSM).

SOTHSSM has already launched its academic programme for a BA course in international hospitality administration (BA-IHA).

Tourism and hospitality will also be taught through a mix of online, face-to-face and open and distance learning (ODL) mode. The courses will be inter-disciplinary, trans-disciplinary and based on sectoral research.

A slew of courses in hospitality will soon be offered from certificate to PhD levels.

The university’s think-tank is mulling a number of add-on programmes in the school to ensure steady outflow of professionals with higher capabilities at hospitality, food services and tertiary activities. For that purpose, the academic programmes have been divided into two sectors — hospitality administration, which includes food services, housekeeping and maintenance, and tourism with special doses of ancient and modern history and archaeology.

For hospitality segment, IGNOU has tied up with 45 institutions, of which 28 are special programme centres having infrastructure and facilities to educate, train and groom young professionals.

According to the department coordinator, K.V. Simon, “Growth in hospitality activities during the last few years has been mind-boggling. This growth has been boosted by a surge of employment-seekers and rise in purchasing power of the middle-class.”

“I believe we will need over a million hospitality professionals in the next 10 years. At present, we are getting about 20,000 trained manpower per annum. Taking into consideration the growth in the numbers of hotels, motels, restaurants, luxury cruise liners, resorts and homes, the scope for trained professionals will grow manifold. Over 60% of the world professionals are being provided by India,” Simon added.

He said, “For every senior manager in a hospitality set-up, the ratio of staff is 1:20, which means, every senior manager needs 20 members in the staff for his department alone. With this, trained staff for supporting services is also required.”

New Delhi, October 4
Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today presented medals and awards to students of the New Delhi Institute of Management on the occasion of their 11th annual convocation.

He also honoured prominent personalities for specialisation in finance, marketing, human resources and information technology during the function.

He said the Haryana government had laid thrust on bringing about comprehensive education reforms from the primary level to the university level as well as technical education.

Besides enacting the Private University Act to encourage private sector investment in higher education, the government was setting up Rajiv Gandhi Education city at Kundli near Delhi.

Reiterating his government’s commitment to enhancing the educational status of society, Hooda disclosed that the state government had recently implemented innovative schemes involving an investment of Rs 485 crore for the promotion of education among Scheduled Caste students and families living below the poverty line. 

Noida, October 4
Noida will soon be the venue for a trade fair on the pattern of Surajkund fair to be organized by the UP tourism department.

The tourism department of the state has approached the Noida Authority to reserve the Ram Lila grounds here for the fair, it is learnt. Noida Authority sources said the request has been approved.

Every year a trade fair is organized in Surajkund near Faridabad from February 1. Not only do different states project their art and craft in this fair, lately leading business houses have also started patronizing it.

A shopping festival on similar lines is proposed to be organized in Noida from February 16 to March 2 in 2009.

The state government is very keen that main product brands of UP should be displayed in this trade fair—like carpets from Bhadoli, brass ware and utensils from Moradabad, locks from Agra, pottery from Khurja, sports goods from Meerut, best leather products from Agra and Kanpur and embroidered kurtas from Lucknow.

Being very close to Delhi, foreign tourists can easily visit the festival. The Noida trade fair could help promote the cultural heritage and tourism spot of the UP state, it is felt.

New Delhi, October 4
Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai can’t stop gushing about her husband Abhishek Bachchan and says they share a special bond and she identifies a lot with him.

“I admire him (Abhishek) for his approach to work. He understands cinema so well that he is not afraid of taking risks. He stands by his family, friends all the time and because of this I identify a lot with him,” Aishwarya said.

“I know him for a very long time now. Together we have grown from actors to colleagues to friends and now we share a very special bond. It is definitely a nice feeling,” she added.

Aishwarya, the brand ambassador of Swiss watch brand Longines, was here to open its exclusive boutique in Ambience Mall, Gurgaon.

Dressed in a one-shoulder lemon dress, the actress was in a chirpy mood.

She will soon be seen in Shankar’s ‘Robot’.

“Shankar had approached me previously to work with him, but it never materialised. Finally, everything landed in place and here we are together after ten years,” Aishwarya said. “It was great working with Rajnikanth, who is a brilliant actor. The only tough thing about the movie was studying Tamil again in order to pronounce the words properly,” she added.

Other then this, the actress will soon start shooting for Mani Ratnam’s ‘Ravana’ with Abhishek.

“I don’t want to reveal much about it but in another 10 days, we will start shooting for the movie. I am looking forward to working again with Mani,” she added.

After being a part of the ‘Unforgettable’ world tour, the actress feels that the tour gave her an opportunity to mingle with all her family members. “I have done so many world tours, but this one was special because it was my first tour after marriage. We were there for work but when the family is together, work becomes fun,” she said. Beginning with Mumbai, the ‘Unforgettable’ tour will soon be staged in India, though the dates and venues have not been finalised yet. — IANS

New Delhi, October 4
“Today we have the opportunity of coming back as a civilization after being in decline for a thousand years that is right up to the 10th century when we were the largest economy globally. This has been an extremely long period of decline and today for the first time there is an opportunity for change,” says author and Deutsche Bank economist, Sanjeev Sanyal.

“The point to make is that cultures that become great are open-minded and there is a culture of risk-taking. However, things are changing and finally after a thousand years we are only now open to risk-taking. Economically today we’re creating multinationals like TATA Steel and young people as well as my generation are bringing in this change, what I would term as the ‘Indian Renaissance’ if it goes all the way through,” says Sanyal in an interview to The Tribune after releasing his book, ‘Indian Renaissance’ in the Capital recently.

“Finally, we have buried the ghost of the East India Company. The attitudes of the new generation that are acting as agents of this change are not created by the freedom movement or the Emergency and the Bangladesh War rather the Maruti 800 was a symbol of progress and freedom for us,” elucidates Sanyal. Predicting the future, Sanyal says, “I think by 2020 we will have almost 90% literacy. Change is visible in rural India right now for instance most villages have two schools now, a private and a government. The poorest parents are willing to pay for education and surprisingly in Bihar/UP.”

Sanyal opines, “Higher education should be liberalized. It is one of the last bastions of licence raj and control. The UGC should become a regulatory authority.”

Sanyal adds, “As I see it the first round of reforms brought liberalization of the economy which is almost completed. Now, the second round requires a very different set of reforms primarily the reforming of the state to play its rightful role. In particular, the entire mechanism of governance, the judicial system and the executing arm. We need clear-cut rules and efficient enforcement, a massive cleaning up drive needs to be undertaken. Institutional reform is needed.”