New Delhi, December 6
Fingers are crossed as the ruling Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spend anxious moments predicting a close finish in the Delhi assembly elections, the votes for which will be counted on Monday.

The elections took place on November 29 under the shadow of the Mumbai terror attack.

The Capital saw a record voting of 58 per cent as six million people cast their vote to elect 69 members of the 70-member Delhi assembly. Balloting for the Rajinder Nagar assembly seat was deferred following the death of BJP candidate Puran Chand Yogi.

According to political analysts, the gory Mumbai incident that shook the whole country may have been on the voters mind while polling and it might change the political equations in Delhi.

“The Mumbai operation was still on when polling started in the Capital. The people must have come out to vote with the terror drama fresh on their mind. I think the Congress is likely to suffer as they have governments in the centre (Delhi) and the state (Maharashtra),” said G.V.L. Narasimha Rao.

The Congress, which banked on the development work carried out in the city during the last 10 years under the leadership of Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, argues that the Mumbai attack will not affect regional politics.

Though Delhi Congress chief J.P. Aggarwal claims his party will return to power with a thumping majority, party sources say they sense a very close victory margin.

“The Mumbai incidents left everyone shocked and it may have some implications but not to the extent that it will completely undo the development work carried out by the Delhi government during the last ten years,” Aggarwal said.

The BJP on the other hand has been claiming that it will get two-thirds majority ever since the campaign started. The party is contesting elections under its veteran leader, V.K. Malhotra.

Party strategists say the attack on the country’s financial hub could work in their favour.

“I think the people are fed up of the terror attacks in the country. They are scared about their safety and security and that only a change of regime in the states and at the centre can provide some relief to them,” Delhi BJP spokesperson Mewaram Arya said.

The fight in Delhi has traditionally been between the Congress and the BJP, but the inroads made by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in the city politics has made the battle more curious.

The BSP, which has fielded candidates for all seats, is likely to eat into a major share of the Congress voters. After tasting success in the 2007 municipal corporation elections where it won 17 out of the total 272 seats, the BSP expects to win at least five seats in the Delhi assembly. — IANS

New Delhi, December 6
Two separate anonymous calls warning that bombs had been planted at a business complex in South Delhi and near a cinema hall in Central Delhi sent the city police into a tizzy, though both turned out to be hoax.

While a call on Friday afternoon said that a bomb had been placed in Nehru Place, a warning in the evening created panic at Liberty Cinema in New Rohtak Road.

“Both the calls were declared hoaxes after extensive searches were carried out.

The first call was received at around 12.30 pm that a bomb is planted in Hemkunt Towers at Nehru Place,” a police official said.

In the second incident, the police received a call around 5 pm that there was a bomb at Liberty Cinema.

Investigations are on and the police is trying to find out who made the calls and from where. — IANS

New Delhi, December 6
The crux of a discussion, “Muslim Initiative Against Terrorism”, is to interact with intellectual of various communities, students and teachers and distribute pamphlets projecting that Islam hates terrorism. Muslims in India are not involved in the menace.

President, Jamiat Ulema Hind, Qari Usman, said just after 1947, Indians pledged to live together in peace that was why a secular Constitution was written giving equal rights to all. It was a commitment of the communities to live together in peace.

Quoting the Koran, a holy book of Islam, he said violating a commitment is a crime. If anybody commits this crime, he must be punished according to the law without considering his community, religion, colour and creed.

Without taking the name of the outfit, Qari Usman said the Mumbai attack was an act of cowardice and this should be investigated and the culprits must be punished. Whenever any such incident occurs, Muslims are suspected. When Naxalites or Bodos kill, the name of a particular community is not highlighted. The question of who killed Christians in Orissa has not been raised.

Shahid Siddiqui, former Rajya Sabha MP, suggested that pamphlets and booklets should be distributed among the people to make Muslims stand up and clear Islamic teachings against the terrorism. Workshops should be organised to extend Muslims’ solidarity with the majority and the government.

He also said that Muslim youth were facing difficulty in getting jobs due to propaganda for their sympathy with the militant activities. Meetings should be held with the FICCI and the ASSOCHAM to convince the industry executives and clear the air. Meetings should also be held with media bosses, other professionals, government officers and lower constabularies.

Chairman of the Delhi Minorities Commission, Kamal Faruqui, said Muslims are also affected with the Mumbai shooting incident. It is not a new menace. It must be eliminated.

Muslim bodies will take out peace march in 12 cities – Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Chennai, Delhi, Faizabad, Hyderabad, Kolkatta, Lucknow, Mumbai, Varanasi and Vadodara – to express their solidarity with the government.

Neeru Vohra, a Gandhian, said the non-violence theory of Mahatma Gandhi was the only solution to this menace. “We are working in Saharanpur, Rampur, Binjor and Moradabad districts with farmers, artisans and other people and are getting good response.”

A senior leader of Jamiatul Hadees, Abdul Wahab Khilji, said punishment to the culprits and justice with other people are the only way out to eliminate the terrorism. These cases should be investigated honestly. A particular community should not be targeted.

Wasim Advocate said terrorism in the country had become a major problem. Chief of the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) of Mumbai police and other members of the team have been killed. The ATS had got the clue of basic routes of terrorism. Mumbai attack along with the killing of ATS men must be investigated and culprits must be punished.

Condemning the terrorist attack, Tahir Mahmood, retired professor, said as terrorist outfits posed themselves as Muslims so it was responsibility of the community to convince the authorities concerned that Muslims are being framed in the menace. Terrorism has no place in Islam. Those who are killing innocent people are not Muslims, he said.

New Delhi, December 6
Executives of top corporates came together today to play cricket, soccer, table tennis and badminton matches in the Capital in a bid to raise some Rs 3 million for underprivileged children in the country.

Olympic medallist Vijender Singh inaugurated the ninth edition of the event, called ‘Child Rights and You (CRY) and Cadence Corporate Citizenship Challenge’, at Modern School on Barakhamba Road.

The two-day multi-discipline sports event will see matches between 12 teams with 45 participants from 40 corporates.

The initiative fuses sport and corporate social responsibility to help children on the fringes of society, its organisers said.

Over the last eight years, the event has raised Rs 24 million and the ninth edition is also expected to mop up close to Rs 3 million.

The proceeds will be used for funding a holistic welfare project ‘Kislay’ for children of migrants on the outskirts of the Capital.

“Thousands of children in our country have no access to education and are denied their rights. I hope CRY and Cadence can address their needs,” said Vijender, who won the bronze medal in the Beijing Olympics.

He urged youngsters to take to boxing in a bigger way. “Boxing is such a discipline that even children from the middle class can train in. Many youngsters from the heartland are now at the forefront of this sport,” Vijender said.

“Last year, CRY-Cadence Corporate Citizenship Challenge campaigned for the rights of the girl child. This year, the focus is on education for children. The partnership has also increased in scope and geography over the years to cover cities like Delhi, Bangalore, Chandigarh and London,” said Anita Bala Sharad, general manager of resource generation of CRY.

The event was earlier known as Corporate Cricket Citizenship Challenge.

“We conceived the event eight years ago following interactions with people of the upper middle class income groups who wanted to do something for the society but did not know how to go about it. We thought if we could create a platform for awareness, it would help build the momentum,” said Jaswinder S. Ahuja, corporate vice-president and managing director of Cadence Design Systems Pvt Ltd.

According to a CRY estimate, nearly 17 million children across the country report to work everyday, when they should be attending school and 42% of primary classes are still conducted in the open in the absence of school buildings. — IANS

New Delhi, December 6
The Indian National Teachers Executive Council, academic wing of the Congress, has fielded Ashwini Shankar for the executive council and Sanjay Verma, Sanjay Tyagi, R. S. Dahiya, Arun Kumar and Ramesh Kumar for the Academic Council elections of Delhi University. These are statutory decision-making bodies of the university.

The Congress panel has demanded that new pay scales be announced at the earliest. There should no downgrading of salary grade, parity between librarians and teachers should not be violated, introduction of professorship in colleges and one time option to shift from CPF to GPF.

The panel said if it is elected it would pursue these matters.

The candidates on the INTEC panel are experienced, said Ashwini Shankar contesting for executive council.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee submitted a memorandum to the AICC president, Sonia Gandhi, for the early implementation of new pay scales, its president J. P. Agarwal said.

New Delhi, December 6
Gursharan Kaur, wife of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, released khalsa samachar on the occasion of 136th birth anniversary of Bhai Vir Singh yesterday at Bhai Vir Singh Sahitya Sadan here.

President of the Sadan Amrik Singh also launched an exhibition on manuscripts of Guru Granth Sahib.

Former Jathedar Takht Kesgarh Sahib chief Manjit Singh presented gurbani kirtan. J.S. Neki highlighted the mystical experiences in context of Guru Granth Sahib and bani.

After students of Guru Granth Sahib Vidya Kendra, Mehrauli completed sehaj path, Bhai Ajit Singh and Bhai Kulbir Singh also presented kirtan.

Gurgaon, December 6
Parents usually criticised and nagged their children for bad manners and lack of morality but they fail to understand their role in their children’s upbringing and behaviour, said Asha Hooda, wife of Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

She was speaking at the annual function of Shallom Hills International School here today.

Asha advised parents to find out the reasons behind the behaviour of their kids and guide them to the correct path in stead of nagging or criticising them.

Parents should understand that they were equally responsible for their children’s behaviour.

She said, “Let us not criticise children. In stead resolve to give the society good human beings with high moral values.”

She also paid tributes to those who died during the Mumbai terror attacks.

Hooda released white balloons giving message of universal brotherhood and said that peace is stronger than terror.

The students lighted candles and presented a colourful cultural programme.

Lili George, director of the school; Chakarvarti Sharma, vice-president of HPCC; Khazan Singh spokesperson of Haryana Congress; Asha Sharma, general secretary of Congress Women Cell; HUDA administrator G. Anupama; deputy commissioner Deepti Umashankar and additional deputy commissioner Parveen Kumar were also present.

New Delhi, December 6
Each winter Delhi is on a roll. The spotlight this time is on the second edition of the 23-day Delhi International Arts Festival that comprises art, music, dance, film and theatre.

Among the countries that have sent artists are Pakistan, Japan, Switzerland and Southeast Asian nations.

The art carnival, being presented by Incredible India in association with the ministry of culture and tourism and the ministry of information and broadcasting, opened with a dance recital at the Meghdoot Theatre Monday. Thirty-five of India’s best-known dancers came together to make a collective offering on “Vande Mataram”, the national song.

The festival will offer a rich spread of both national and international shows that will include music, art, literature, dance and theatre spread across nearly 70 venues in Delhi and the National Capital Region.

New Delhi, December 6
A book on homemade Indian vegetarian cuisine, ‘Pure and Simple’ was released yesterday evening by co-chairman of Infosys, Nandan Nilekani.

The book is written by Vidhu Mittal, a Bnagalore-based culinary expert.

The book contains 100 classic and contemporary vegetarian recipes along with step-by-step photographs.

Apart from the recipes, the book provides information on spices, vegetables and kitchen tools. “Vidhu Mittal’s pure and simple homemade Indian vegetarian cuisine is an easy, innovative solution to great food, good health and wide variety,” said Nilekani.

Mittal has been conducting cookery classes for over 15 years, besides making regular contributions to magazines and specialised websites.

“I developed an interest in cookery very early in my life and what was hobby became passion that I love sharing with others,” said the author.

She has created a wide range of recipes that retain and enhance natural flavours, textures and colour,” commented Nilekani.

“Compared to traditional Indian cookery, which can sometimes be too rich and elaborate, my recipes are healthy and appealing. I have constantly been evolving my recipes and enjoy experimentation,” added Mittal.

New Delhi, December 6
With the arrest of two suspects from Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh today, the Delhi police claims to have worked out a kidnapping case.

The suspects were identified as Ravinder Singh and Sheru of Gokulpuri in East Delhi.

The two allegedly kidnapped the victim, Rocky (17), from his house on the intervening night of December 3 and took him to a village in Muzaffarnagar.

A case was registered on the basis of a statement given by his mother, Laxmi Gosami. She alleged that on the next day of kidnapping the family received a ransom call of Rs 50 lakh.

The two asked his family to reach Kandhla bus stand with the amount.

The police reached the spot along with the victim’s father. But the suspects did not report. Later, the Delhi police raided their hideout with the help of UP police and rescued the boy whose hands were tied with a rope, the police said.

Noida, December 6
The body of a 25-year-old married woman was found in her house in Nangla Charan Das village of Noida Phase-II on Friday.

According to police station in charge of the area, S.K.S. Pratap, the killer first tried to strangle her, but later smashed her head with a pressure cooker. Woman’s husband is absconding since the incident and so the police is considering him as the main suspect.

Kanchan Bala, 25, had shifted to Nalanda Vihar with her husband, Sanjay and their two children about a month ago. Kanchan worked for a hosiery export company in Greater Noida.

On Friday, when she did not report for work, company supervisor Rakesh came to her house in the evening to find out the reason for her absence. He found the house door closed. When he told the landlord about it, both of them went to the room. As they opened the door, they found Kanchan’s blood-soaked body lying in the room with her head crushed. A blood-stained pressure cooker was also lying near the body.

Ashish immediately informed the police. Since Kanchan’s husband is missing since the crime, the police suspects him to be behind the murder.

According to the police, Kanchan’s husband was alcoholic and used to beat her almost daily. 

New Delhi, December 6
A minor road accident turned into a case of road rage, when one car driver began beating another after their cars brushed against each other here, the police said on Friday.

According to the police, the incident took place around 2 pm on Thursday in the Naraina area of Southwest district.

“Raj Bharti, 27, a resident of the Greater Kailash area, was going home with his wife Archana in an i10 car. Near Brar Square, their car was hit by a Honda City car,” a senior police officer said.

“The Honda City was driven by Ankit Jain’s driver. An argument started between Bharti and Jain that later turned into a scuffle. Bharti hit Jain on the head with something - we are yet to ascertain the object. Jain then fell on the ground unconscious,” the police officer added.

Eyewitnesses told the police that after the two cars brushed against each other, it was Bharti who intercepted Jain’s car.

“After Jain was beaten by Bharti, the locals who had gathered at the spot and were trying to pacify both the parties, thrashed Bharti,” the police officer said.

The police arrived at the scene after being informed of the incident by some onlookers and took Bharti and Jain to hospital.

“They are out of danger now,” the police officer added.

“We are waiting for their statements after which we will take the action in the matter,” the police officer said. — IANS

Greater Noida, December 6
The body of a retired army man, Anar Singh, 55, was on Friday morning found in a field near a container depot here. A blood-stained stone was also found near the body, which, according to the police, had been used to kill him.

The Surajpur police, under whose jurisdiction the area where the body was found falls, has sent the dead body for post mortem after registering a case against unknown killers. The police has also taken possession of the stone and experts have lifted finger prints from the spot.

According to Singh’s son, Narinder Singh, on Thursday evening, Anar Singh had left for temple in Dadri.

When he did not return till evening, family members went out to search him, but could not find him.

The family then informed the police.

A resident of Tilpatta, Singh had retired from army 10 years ago and since then spent most of his time worshipping and meditating.

The motive of the murder is still not known.

However, Singh used to lend money on interest and it is possible that someone who did not want to return his money might have killed him.