Friday, October 17, 2008, Chandigarh, India
|
Assembly Poll
Delhi voters to get slim, compact ID cards
BSP woos voters with relief from price rise
|
|
|
Need felt to check communal violence
Fire, security goods critical to nation’s growth: Dikshit
Love child returned to parents
Exhibition showcasing ITBP stalls opens
Remand of blasts suspects extended till Oct 27
Retrenched Jet staff knock on Delhi Chief Minister’s doors
Disabled man charred to death
Travel agent shot dead
Nurse suspended for misbehaving with pregnant woman
Dalai Lama discharged from hospital
Handicrafts fair opens at Gt Noida
DTC incurring losses as few bus drivers recruited: Malhotra
|
Assembly Poll
New Delhi, October 16 Singh said that the delegation had submitted a letter to the commissioner to recognise ‘tarazu’ as the party’s symbol. He said that the party was fulfilling all formalities to contest the elections on its symbol. The Akali Dal (Badal) has alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). According to sources, the commissioner has assured the delegation of recognising the party’s symbol and has asked the party to submit details of their candidates. Though Singh did not reveal the constituencies from where the party would contest the elections, he said that it mainly concentrated on constituencies where Sikhs and Punjabis were in majority. The party has been demanding 15 seats from the BJP since long. But the saffron party has agreed on three seats – Adarsh Nagar, Shahdara and Rajouri Garden. The Akali Dal is demanding more seats. It is adamant for Tilak Nagar and Jangpura constituencies. Delhi BJP chief Harsh Vardhan said that the party had not yet decided on the exact number of seats that would be given to the Akali Dal. However, he admitted that not more than five seats would be given to the party. He said that if the Akali Dal contested on BJP’s symbol it would be easy for the party to translate BJP votes. The party had contested the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections on the BJP symbol which had resulted in the victory of its six candidates. When asked about the candidates, he said that final decision would be taken by the party high command. The Delhi unit of the party would just send a list of ticket seekers. He said that the party was keen on promoting youths and women provided they were capable to win the elections. |
Delhi voters to get slim, compact ID cards
New Delhi, October 16 “The new voter identity cards are compact and slim compared to the earlier cards that were big and wide,” Joint Chief Electoral Officer, Delhi, Uday Bakshi, told IANS. “The change has been brought only this year and now every voter in the city will get this card,” Bakshi added. Asked for the reason behind the change, he explained: “We just wanted the voter cards to become compact and manageable.” “The people can easily keep it in their wallets or pockets. The size now would be 9 X 6 centimetres,” Bakshi added. The hologram on the card has also been changed. “Earlier the hologram was of Delhi administration but now the hologram will have the national emblem,” Bakshi added. No other changes have been introduced in the voter cards. There will be no change in the photograph, it will remain black and white. All those issued the new cards will have to return the old ones. The distribution process of the voter card is expected to start in the next few days. — IANS |
|
BSP woos voters with relief from price rise
New Delhi, October 16 The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) which plans to make an impact in the coming assembly elections in the Capital has already started its mass contact programme. Local leaders have been directed to hold as many meetings as possible in their respective segments to “awaken the people to realities”. Addressing a meeting in Timarpur, Delhi BSP leaders, G. C. Dinkar and Chaudhary Mahendra Singh along with the local party leader, Sanjeev Kumar appealed to the public to vote for their party if they wanted relief from soaring prices of essential commodities and unemployment. The BSP leaders also criticised the Congress government in the Capital for not doing enough for the poor and the backward during its last 10 years of rule. |
|
Need felt to check communal violence
New Delhi, October 16 Several noted academicians attended the meeting at Gandhi Peace Foundation to discuss the “Attacks on minorities and challenges before the democratic movement”. Prashant Bhushan, human rights lawyer and activist, pointed out, “Today even the middle classes are highly communal. The police helped by the media has served to project Muslims as terrorists. As a result, indiscriminate arrests of educated Muslim youth are carried out,” he said while adding that the Supreme Court and NHRC guidelines on arrest were not being followed. Manoranjan Mohanty, who went as a member of a fact-finding team to violence-hit areas of Orissa, said that large-scale attacks were carried out against Christians. “Christians are threatened to return to Hinduism. What was shocking was the indifferent attitude of the police and state officials,” he said. He added that civil liberty and human rights groups should come in a joint strength against such attacks. Journalist Jaspal Sidhu saw these attacks as an extension of the colonial policy of divide and rule, which is allegedly being confirmed by the state today. He said, “These developments are detrimental to national unity. If unchecked, they may precipitate a division in the map of the country.” “It is not an issue of Christian or Muslim, but rather an issue of democracy and should be fought on a non-communal terrain. The state and the ruling classes were using these attacks to transform an economic issue into a communal issue,” said Professor Imtiaz Ahmed. While concluding the meeting, the participants resolved that attacks on minorities and their institutions must stop and those responsible should be dealt with in accordance with the rule of law. Janhastakshep demanded a timebound judicial enquiry by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court into the Jamia Nagar encounter. The meeting also resolved that the media should “avoid telecasting absurd and concocted stories built by the police on confessions made in police custody”. |
Fire, security goods critical to nation’s growth: Dikshit
New Delhi, October 16 Dikshit was speaking at the inauguration of the three-day International Fire and Security Exposition at Pragati Maidan here. Pegged as the largest international security and fire technology exhibition in India, the three-day event also includes international concurrent conference – Indian Fire and Security Inc.: Crossing the Rubicon. The event concept based on ‘Global Outlook, Local Approach’ reiterates to focus on new technology, discuss its potential and application in the present industry scenario in India. Arun Khazanchi, president, Fire & Safety Association of India said, “Since 2002 the market for security and fire protection products has grown by over 47 per cent. While fire has increased by 71 per cent, security has increased by 21 per cent. India’s security and fire market is currently worth US$620 million, with major demand for security products coming from the defence and IT sectors. The overall fire protection market in India is worth US$339 million. Although the market is enjoying unprecedented growth, lack of standards and legislation as well as numerous small unregulated players are constraining growth factors and ensuring severe price competition.” “The conference aims at debating these issues from an Indian perspective, discuss and highlight the emerging opportunities, challenges and trends in security and fire markets and provide the end user with solutions for their fire and security needs,” Khazanchi added. The exhibition will feature over 200 leading security and fire manufacturers and distributors of the world. Almost 20% of them are expected to launch new products and technologies during the exhibition. Representatives across various industries such as consultants and specifiers, electrical consultants, fire consultants, safety managers, design mangers, architects, facilities managers, security managers, administrative managers, operations managers, estate managers, IT managers, procurement managers and instrumentation managers are expected to attend the event. |
Love child returned to parents
New Delhi, October 16 Amid emotional scenes in a packed courtroom, metropolitan magistrate Naveen Arora ordered Asha to hand over the baby to Pallavi and Sushil Kumar. “Keeping in view the welfare of the child, I order Asha to hand over the child to his parents,” the judge said. “I am not transferring this case to the guardianship court because it will not be in the welfare of child,” he said. Not prepared to be separated from the child, Asha fainted several times in the courtroom and also decried the judicial system. “We will appeal against this order in the higher court,” she later said. However, for Pallavi and Sushil, it was time to smile as they were united with their child after a legal battle. “We are happy our child is back with us finally,” Sushil said. Sushil and Pallavi, residents of Ashok Vihar in North Delhi, had got married secretly in February 2006 when they were minors. The boy was born on September 24, 2007 at the Safdarjung Hospital here and was immediately handed over to Asha, whom they had met through a common friend, as the couple wanted to avoid uncomfortable questions from relatives. On reaching the legal age of marriage, Pallavi and Sushil formally married on November 22, 2007. “Soon after their marriage, the couple approached Asha to return the child but she continued to make lame excuses on one pretext or the other and did not return the child to them despite repeated requests,” Pallavi’s lawyer Kamal Singh Pundhir said. The couple then decided to move the court against Asha. Asha had contended that she had adopted the child and a metropolitan magistrate had no power to decide the matter, which could be settled either by the district judge or a guardianship court. However, the metropolitan magistrate rejected the argument. Pundhir contended that Asha had failed to provide any documents to prove that she had adopted the child. Asha’s counsel Nitin Sharma said handing over a child is enough to be considered an adoption and there are no set rules and proper procedure for the purpose. — IANS |
Exhibition showcasing ITBP stalls opens
New Delhi, October 16 Sonia Shrivastav, president, HWWA, the chief guest on the occasion, said, “HWWA contributes in its own humble way to make the lives of the force personnel and their families more meaningful. The funds generated in this exhibition help in furthering of HWWA’s goals. The exhibition is an annual event and is keenly awaited by the participants and the public”. The exhibition showcases the skills of ITBP families and welfare activities undertaken for the force personnel. It exhibits products prepared and manufactured in the force’s welfare centres. The proceeds from the exhibition are utilized for the welfare of the force personnel. Sonia Gandhi took a round of the exhibition and appreciated the activities of the family welfare centres. A status film on ITBP was screened to acquaint the people with the role and duties being performed by the force. On this occasion, a photo exhibition depicting the history, training, operations, welfare activities and adventure sports of the force has been put on display. HWWA works for the welfare of the families of the force personnel with a specific focus on women empowerment. It trains families in food processing, tailoring, weaving, stitching, beautician course, home management, computer training, yoga classes, embroidery, pattern making, painting and child care. |
Remand of blasts suspects extended till Oct 27
New Delhi, October 16 All five have been booked under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Explosive Substances Act and Unlawful Activities (prevention) Act. “The investigating agency must collect evidence and unearth the truth. Fair investigation is the mandate of law. Keeping in view the dynamics of the case and factual matrix, police remand is necessary,” said chief metropolitan magistrate Sanjeev Jain before extending their remand. Earlier, additional public prosecutor Rajiv Mohan had sought police custody for them in the case registered with Connaught Place police station. He had stated that the accused were arrested for the blasts carried out in Delhi on September 13. He had said that their custody was required to investigate whether the blast at Connaught Place was part of a larger conspiracy or it was a different terror plan. However, the counsel of the accused opposed the remand plea, saying that they had already been facing custodial interrogation for the last 26 days. He also cited a Supreme Court ruling, which said that the police could not seek custodial interrogation for more than 15 days. The September 13 serial blasts that rocked Connaught Place, Gaffar Market in Karol Bagh and Greater Kailash M-Block Market had left 25 people dead and several injured. Saif was arrested following an encounter at Jamia Nagar in South Delhi on September 19 while Zeeshan was arrested on the same evening from the Jhandewalan area in Central Delhi where he had gone to face an interview regarding a job in a private television channel. The other three — Shakeel, Zia-ur-Rehman and Saquib were arrested from Shaheen Bagh by the south district police on September 20. |
Retrenched Jet staff knock on Delhi Chief Minister’s doors
New Delhi, October 16 An official at Dikshit’s official residence said that about 55 retrenched Jet employees arrived at her house around 4 p.m. The Chief Minister was out and was expected late in the evening, the official said. “These people want to meet Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. But she is out for a meeting and is expected late,” he said. Earlier in the day, the agitating employees had held a demonstration at the Indira Gandhi International Airport. According to Udayan Banerjee, the senior commandant of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), the demonstration was peaceful. The Central Industrial Security Force manages the security of the Delhi airport. Hundreds of retrenched staff, including pilots, cabin crew and ground staff, had protested at the Jet Airways office in Mumbai on Wednesday and had even sought the intervention of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray. The airline has laid off around 1,900 employees following a strategic and operational alliance with rival Kingfisher Airlines. — IANS |
Disabled man charred to death
New Delhi, October 16 According to fire officials, the leakage of LPG cylinder led to fire. Anil could not move his legs and hands and perished in the fire. Three fire tenders were rushed to the spot and the fire was doused in an hour. Fire brigade personnel and police officials found Kapoor dead inside the house. Anil’s wife had deserted him two years ago due to his drinking habits. Aspiring pilot commits suicide Rajni, a 21-year-old aspiring pilot committed suicide in her West Delhi home last night. She was found hanging in her room by her sister in Uttam Nagar. According to family members, she was training to be a pilot from a private institute in Dwarka. She was also enrolled in a B.A. correspondence course from Delhi University. “Rajni’s parents told us that she had bolted the door from inside. Her sister tried to open the door but in vain. She then called her parents who broke open the door and saw Rajni hanging from the ceiling,” a police officer said. The victim’s father Shivraj Singh works with the defence ministry. He told the police that Rajni seemed normal just half an hour before the incident. Three injured in quarrel A minor incident related to removing of chain to pass thoroughfare left three persons injured last evening in the Nai Wala area of Karol Bagh. According to police, a shopkeeper in the area tried to stop two persons who were crossing the road after removing the chain that he had tied. The scooter-borne men left the place but returned with their friends some time later and attacked the shopkeeper. Jitender, Sameer and Karan were injured in the fight, while police has arrested one Vippy Kapoor who led the attack on the shopkeeper. Gang of robbers busted, 2 held With the arrest of two persons Dharmender Pehlwahn (32) and Dinesh Pandit (31), the North West District Police has busted a desperate gang of robbers active in Delhi and solved a sensational daylight robbery of Rs 3 lakh held in the area of Keshav Puram police station in May this year. The police team also recovered one countrymade pistol with a live cartridge, one knife and one motorcycle used in the commission of crime. The duo were nabbed from Panjabi Bagh after a tip-off. On interrogation, they disclosed that they had committed the snatching of Rs 3 lakh in May 2008 along with their accomplices Vir Singh, Amarjeet, Kaushal. Both the accused are also involved in a murder case of Seelampur police station. In this case Dinesh Pandit has got life imprisonment and presently he was on bail from the Delhi High Court. Both the accused are matriculate and Dharmender Pehlwahn originally hails from Azamgarh, UP while Dinesh Pandit is from Hardoi, UP. Dharmender is involved in 10 cases of robbery, murder and theft, whereas Dinesh Pandit is involved in 3 cases of murder and robbery. Man robbed of chain in Amar Colony A young man was beaten and his gold chain snatched by miscreants last night in Amar Colony area of south Delhi last night. According to Jayant, the incident took place around midnight when his motorcycle broke down on his way home. As Jayant looked for help, a person approached him on the pretext of helping and inquired about his predicament. Even as Jayant was talking with the stranger, he found himself surrounded by two other persons. They asked him for money and gold chain. As Jayant protested, he was slapped and pushed before the three ran away with his chain. Police is investigating the matter while a case has been lodged in Amar Colony police station. |
Travel agent shot dead
Ghaziabad, October 16 Travel agency owner Rupesh Kumar had received five bullets injuries while Deepak, 25, a bystander, was wounded with two bullet shots in the abdomen. He is in a critical condition at Yashoda Hospital in Ghaziabad. In all nine bullets were fired by the assailants from a semi-automatic pistol, according to police. A white car had also accompanied the assailants on a bike which the police said was to identify the victim and ascertain that he was actually killed. Police said the motive behind Rupesh Kumar’s murder could be the enmity he had with some people in his native village, Ator Nagla. Rupesh used to run his travel agency from his HIG flat in C 24 near Kalibari Temple, police said. While Rupesh was standing near his car outside the agency, bikers arrived and the pillion-rider straightway opened fire. As customers tried to save themselves, Deepak just came out of his shop to see what was happening. The shooters fired two shots at him and fled away. Hearing the shots, cops from a nearby police post came rushing to the spot. Police took the victim to Yashoda Hospital where Rupesh was declared brought dead while Deepak was operated upon to remove a bullet lodged in the abdomen. |
|
Nurse suspended for misbehaving with pregnant woman
New Delhi, October 16 It is alleged that the timely denial of admission to the patient, Babita, resulted in delivery of the child outside the Maternity Home on October 13. It is further alleged that the staff nurse denied entry as the patient and her attendants could not produce admission card of the Maternity Home certifying that she was undergoing treatment there, an MCD spokesman said. |
Dalai Lama discharged from hospital
New Delhi, October 16 The 73-year-old Nobel laureate, who will stay for another couple of days in the Capital, said, “I’m very happy with the staff and the treatment that I was given here. I had a relaxing time here with nobody to see, nobody to meet, in fact it was like a holiday for me.” Earlier last month, the Lama after feeling abdominal discomfort undertook treatment at Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai. Then when the pain became acute this month, he was admitted to SGH where he underwent an operation of his gall bladder for removing stones. Dr Chaubey told the reporters that many hospitals in the USA wanted to treat the Lama, but as per his wish, he was operated upon here in the Capital. In August, the Dalai Lama had undertaken fast for the first time, during the silent protest for expression of concern over the predicament of Tibetans in exile. He has always urged Tibetans in Tibet as well as in exile to refrain from violent modes of expression. He said, “Everything can be possible through peaceful means, and I believe, sooner or later the sufferings of all the Tibetans in Tibet as well as in exile would come to an end.” |
|
Handicrafts fair opens at Gt Noida
Greater Noida,
October 16 About 1,600 overseas buyers registered on the first day of the show and there was considerable excitement amongst the foreign buyers and also among the domestic exhibitors for the business possibilities during the four days of the fair. The fair is expected to generate substantial inquiries for future business and also result in concluding business worth crores of rupees. |
|
DTC incurring losses as few bus drivers recruited: Malhotra
New Delhi, October 16 He alleged that the Congress government had failed to recruit sufficient number of drivers to man the buses resulting in huge financial losses. He said that though the city government had acquired few low-floor buses, no drivers were being recruited for them. This has led to deficiency of buses on roads. Passengers have to cram themselves in Blueline buses, which has been causing tremendous inconvenience to women, children and elderly persons, he said. |
|
HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Classified Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |