New Delhi, April 22
Modern School, Vasant Vihar, is embroiled in controversy following class XII student, Akriti Bhatia’s sudden death on school premises after a massive asthmatic attack. Akriti’s agitated parents have repeatedly mentioned that there was gross negligence on the part of the school and they have been thinking of resorting to legal action against the school. Modern School, on the other hand, is busy putting up a hasty defence.

Goldy Malhotra, principal, Modern School, Vasant Vihar, says, “We are planning to do something to keep Akriti’s memory alive. Class XII students have suggested setting up a clinic after Akriti’s name.”

Malhotra added, “We will also collect funds and put them in Akriti’s name in some form or the other.”

The school held a two-minute silence for her in the assembly on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights on Wednesday issued a notice to the school for allegedly failing to provide medical aid to a girl student who died on the school premises after suffering from an asthmatic attack.

The DCPCR has informed the media that it seems the school doesn’t have adequate medical facilities to tackle such type of cases and this is a case of gross negligence on the part of the authorities.

The commission has also issued notice to the Delhi education secretary and director on the matter.

The student’s father, Bipin Bhatia has talked of “negligence” on the part of the school in tackling Akriti’s asthmatic attack.

Aakriti had on Tuesday complained of breathlessness to her teacher around 10 am and soon afterwards, she called to inform her mother. Later, when Aakriti’s condition deteriorated, she was shifted to the sports room and put on oxygen. However, around 10.40 am, when she was taken to the Holy Angels Hospital about 2 km from the school, she was declared brought dead.

New Delhi, April 22
Sahara Group has found a novel method to encourage the electorate to exercise their franchise by organising a function of schoolchildren and dignitaries at Parliament Street.

Students carried placards bearing slogans like “Sarak par dhaba kisne khola, vote zaroor den” etc. They formed a human chain and danced on the road wearing yellow dress and cap.

The children also pleaded with the pedestrians by giving them cards, which say, “Vote for your family, your children and yourself. Your vote matters.”

Students were waving posters encouraging voters to choose sensibly. They also penned their messages on a large canvas and designed poster invites, exhorting voters to exercise their rights in a ‘correct’ manner.

Arihant Rastogi, one of the participants, said, “Our future is in the hands of the voters. We need a government that can solve all the problems and could help us live peacefully.”

Studying in class eighth, Akansha Gupta says, “Most of us usually talk about recession, water problems, road problems and the list is long. But we hardly do anything. Today, I request all the voters to participate in the elections and exercise their vote for a candidate who can listen to their problems and solve them rather than sitting and criticizing the government for its failure.”

The famous badminton player, Vikram Singh said, “Children are the future of our nation. It is good to find them educating their elders about the responsibility which most of us consider a burden. I hope this will work and our kids will see India shining.”

Sa-re-ga-ma (junior) champion, Diwakar was also present to join the campaign. He too requested the voters all over the country to participate and give vote. 

New Delhi, April 22
Congress candidate from West Delhi Lok Sabha constituency Mahabal Mishra has proved his mettle as an MLA. His work has even won him accolades from party chief Sonia Gandhi. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said this while addressing an event organised at Punjabi Bagh Club yesterday evening.

Dikshit along with state transport and education minister Arvinder Singh Lovely appealed to Punjabi voters to exercise their franchise in Mishra’s favour in the coming elections.

“People should vote for Mahabal Mishra, as he has an impeccable track record and has served the area for long,” said Dikshit.

The party has given him a chance to contest for the Lok Sabha elections keeping in mind his record and performance as an MLA for the last 10 years, Dikshit added.

Mishra, who is pitted against former BJP chief Jagdish Mukhi, is facing a tough fight in West Delhi. According to sources, Mukhi, a Punjabi, is popular among Punjabi voters.

Launching an attack on the BJP, Dikshit alleged the saffron party had always divided people and had sought votes in the name of religion or caste. “The Congress does not indulge in the politics of religion and takes all communities together on the road to progress,” she stressed.

Describing Mishra as “good leader and candidate,” Lovely appealed to voters to ensure his victory.

While Mahabal claimed, “I have worked in the area for long and the people here know me well. I believe in politics sans caste, creed and colour. People support me. They want a candidate who can carry out development.”

He also welcomed BJP leader Subhash Yadav and BSP leader Ashok Lakra who joined the Congress recently. 

New Delhi, April 22
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate from New Delhi Lok Sabha seat Trilok Chand Sharma has promised a better alternative to both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He raised the issue of safety during his campaign trail.

Sharma, reportedly, has been carrying out intensive door-to-door campaigning in his constituency.

“Thefts and robberies are a regular in the national capital. Two girls were killed in the Vasant Vihar area and no safety measures have been taken yet,” alleged Sharma.

Talking to The Tribune today he claimed that voters of his constituency were disgruntled with outgoing MP Ajay Maken. “Maken is responsible for the increased rate of power in Delhi. The power sector was privatised when he was serving as the power minister in the Delhi government. The situation has become such that today the masses cannot afford power and water,” he alleged.

He further said that the UPA government had been bothering people with the price rise.

Sharma said, “In Netaji Nagar, the Delhi government is planning to sell government plots to private builders under public private partnership at throw away prices.”

He also raised issues concerning urban villages in his constituency. “The government has acquired the lands of people in these villages and has not even created any job opportunity for them. In fact, it is charging service tax on the rental income they earn,” he alleged.

Listing achievements of the Mayawati government in UP, Sharma claimed it was the BSP government that ensured water supply to the Sonia Vihar water treatment plant in Delhi. “No one was ready to give water to that plant till the Mayawati government sanctioned water to it on humanitarian grounds on January 8, 2008. The Delhi-Noida bus service was also started by the BSP government within days of its coming to power in UP,” he said. 

New Delhi, April 22
Former Speaker of Delhi legislative assembly and senior Dalit leader in Congress, Ch Prem Singh said that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati had no scheme for development of Dalits who always voted her to power.

Inaugurating the Congress candidate election office at Saidul Ajab in South Delhi, he said that during its last tenure in UP, she had stopped clearing the backlog of vacancies for scheduled caste. She had also stopped issuance of caste certificate to people belonging to the scheduled caste thereby playing with the future of nine lakh Dalit students.

He said that the Dalits and landless people who were allotted land under 20-point programme by the Congress government were deprived of their land by the coalition government of Mayawati and BJP in the state. Dalits’ land was donated to ‘Gau Sadans’.

Ch Prem Singh said that the development and progress of Dalit Samaj was done during the Congress rule only. It is the Congress that has given to the country a Dalit President and the Chief Justice.

Addressing the gathering, he said while the UP government of Mayawati is giving pension of Rs 300 per month to the aged and handicapped persons, the Congress government in Delhi is giving pension of Rs 1,000 per month.

While appealing for the victory of Ramesh Kumar, Congress candidate in South Delhi, Ch Prem Singh said that the future of Dalits and poor are fully safe in the hands of Congress.

Noida, April 22
The Noida Authority is understood to be disbursing bonus cheques for Rs100 crore to around 700 farmers during these election times. The bonus is being distributed under terms of an agreement for hiked amounts. Authority officers are reportedly handing over these cheques to farmers after getting their signatures on receipts.

Nearly 700 account holders (farmers) were allegedly presented cheques for Rs 100 crore on Tuesday.

According to information, the Noida Authority had decided to present bonus cheques to farmers under the teams of agreement on the pattern of cheques given to farmers of Ghodi Bachhera village. This process was started on March 2 and groups of farmers are being handed over the cheques at regular intervals.

So far, 296 farmers have been given cheques for Rs 10 lakh each and 191 farmers Rs 25 lakh each. Cheques for Rs 25 to 50 lakh each have been received by to some 67 farmers while 33 farmers have been handed over cheques for Rs 1 crore each. There are 14 farmers who have received bonus amounts higher than Rs 1 crore each.

Gurgaon, April 22
The soothsayers, who read the horoscopes of their “clients” to predict what is in store for them in the time to come, are themselves having a good time these days. Not only wannabe MPs, but also their close supporters who are eyeing some lucrative venture in the event of their bosses’ victory, are thronging astrologers.

“I would not like to be dubbed superstitious, but I have consulted a local astrologer and am following his instructions to improve our chances of success,” says Pawan, a staunch supporter of a heavyweight leader contesting the LS poll.

Interestingly, many leaders, including LS candidates, have decided to abstain from having non-vegetarian food and/or liquor till the polls are over. According to sources, they have been told to do so by their astrologers.

Needless to say, the seat aspirants are leaving no stone unturned in ensuring the coveted win, for which much is at stake. Hence, apart from the astrologers, allied practitioners like those dealing in gemstones etc are also doing brisk business.

Given the hi-tech orientation being given to electoral campaigning nowadays, website makers and designers are the new kids on the block who have caught the fancy of the poll managers.

Then, there are event managers, who are engaged by different parties or candidates to make the arrangements for organising public meetings.

On the other hand, the cab operators are in great demand as tractor-trailers, which earlier used to ferry people for political meetings and rallies etc, have been rendered outmoded by cars and jeeps.

While the vehicles bearing banners, posters, stickers, loudspeakers or other such publicity material are considered to be campaigning, the cabs come in handy for the politicians as these serve the desired purpose without getting detected by the vigilant eye of the Election Commission.

Greater Noida, April 22
The district administration may register FIRs against private schools which do not accept the recommendations of the special committee set up to look into the matter. The administration fears that schools' highhandedness over the issue could disturb peace of the area during election days.

According to sources, schools have been given time till Wednesday to file their affidavits and replies on the hike in fee. The administration has already sent notices to the private schools in this regard.

The schools have also been asked to confirm about the number of SC and ST students admitted by them in the last 10 years.

According to additional district magistrate (administration) J.P. Arya, parents are regularly holding meetings on roads against the hike in fee by schools. As per reports, they could go out of control and resort to violent agitations, which can breach the peace of the area.

Due to the ongoing election process, Section-144 is already in force in the district. In such a scenario, possible violent protests by the parents could make the situation tense. Hence FIRs against erring schools could be filed under suitable sections. 

New Delhi, April 22
In a letter to the national and regional political parties, Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) placed a charter for the development of a “healthy, democratic and secular press in the country taking into account the convergent media scenario emerging in the country”.

A nine-point charter was released to the press by the DUJ president with copies to the national and regional parties.

“We asked for a newspaper and news agency development corporation for the small, medium newspapers and journals which serve as watchdogs of society. The Indian language press should be encouraged without discrimination,” said SK Pande, president, DUJ.

The journalists’ union demanded the Prasar Bharti to be made more autonomous while encouraging the community radio.

“A firm commitment should be made for a media council in place of the Press Council to cover the entire spectrum of media. Also, it should have more powers than the present Press Council,” he said.

DUJ demanded a check on cross-media ownership to prevent the growth of media monopolies and sought steps to end the entry of foreign direct investment in all categories of media.

Taking into account the sponsored bailout package by the central government for big monopoly press and select owners, the DUJ demanded “a genuine bailout stimulus package for the workers affected by globalisation”.

Other major demands included in the charter are amendment of Working Journalists Act 1955, to ensure permanent wage fixation machinery and make non-implementation of wage boards report a cognizable offence.

New Delhi, April 22
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC)completed the construction work of its longest-ever underground tunnel built by a single Tunnel Boring Machine today with the TBM breaking through at Khan Market.

The tunnel, with a length of 1.775 km, is the longest-ever constructed by single TBM in Delhi Metro. Till now, two 1.45-km-long tunnels constructed between Malviya Nagar and Hauz Khas were the longest.

“Two feats were achieved in the construction of the tunnel as it was completed in just 152 days. In another major achievement, 37.5 meter of tunnelling was completed in a day with the installation of 25 rings, which is an Asian record,” said Anuj Dayal, spokesperson, Delhi Metro.

He said, “Another 1.4-km-long tunnel is set to break through at Shivaji Stadium early next month on the Airport Express line.”

A total of 1,227 rings were installed for the construction of the tunnel. Each ring had six segments. The segments and rings were connected by using bolts. The tunnelling work for this stretch started on November 21 last year. Another tunnel on the parallel line was expected to break through in a month.

The tunnel which broke through at Khan Market has stretch of 2.53 km which is actually the longest distance between two stations under Delhi Metro.

“As this is the longest underground stretch of Delhi Metro without a station, a ventilation shaft is being constructed at Motilal Nehru Marg. The main function of this shaft would be to provide ventilation and fire escape facilities. Two shafts will be constructed. While one will be used for fire escape, the other will be used for ventilation,” he said.

All the tunnelling activities on the corridor are expected to be completed by August this year. 

Faridabad, April 22
The leaders of the ruling Congress in Haryana are feasting on ‘langars’ in gurdwaras in the city to steal a chance to be alongside the commoners in order to give a boost to their party nominee and sitting MP from Faridabad parliamentary constituency, Avatar Singh Bhadana.

Apparently, the idea behind the Congress leaders attending community feasts is to establish an emotional bonding with the Punjabi voters. The Congress leaders are especially seen in the NIT area, the older part of the city that is habited by a large number of Punjabi migrants from Pakistan.

There are about 100 gurdwaras in the NIT area. These gurdwaras were set up by the Punjabis after they migrated from Pakistan at the time of the Partition.

The organising secretary of the Haryana Congress and in-charge of party’s election campaign in the city, Gulshan Bagga, admit that he and his colleagues are visiting gurdwaras on the requests of the management committees. Yesterday he and his party colleagues visited the NH-5 gurdwara in the afternoon and also took part in the ‘langar’.

Bagga, who belongs to the Punjabi community here, admits that visits to gurdwaras and other religious places are important during election time.

According to many, Congress leaders thronging gurdwaras is understandable. During a private discussion, the leaders admit that the party nominee have more critics than admirers, especially in the city. They add that this did not mean that things are easy for him in the rural areas.

Punjabis constitute majority of voters in the city. The community has been traditionally supportive of the Congress. But the community, so far, does not seem to be enthused by Bhadana.

The managers of party’s election campaign in Faridabad also fear that a section of the Punjabis may possibly vote against Bhadana on account of the Haryana local bodies minister A.C. Chaudhary tendering his resignation as a mark of protest against party ignoring Punjabis while distributing tickets in the state for the parliamentary election.

Chaudhary is also a sitting Congress MLA from NIT assembly segment. He was in the race for ticket from Faridabad.

New Delhi, April 22
Taking a strong note of the increasing number of missing children in the capital, the Delhi High Court today ordered a child rights panel to probe the matter.

A division bench headed by Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justice Neeraj Kishan Kaul directed the Delhi Commission of Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) to submit a detailed report within three months.

The DCPCR is already probing the matter. According to the affidavit filed by the Delhi police, 2,210 kids went missing from the capital from June 2008 till January this year and on an average 17 children go missing every day.

“We are more concerned about those missing children who are under eight years of age and we file FIR only when there is kidnapping is alleged,” advocate Mukta Gupta, appearing for the police, contended.

Not satisfied with the response, the court has asked the police to file its reply within three weeks.

“If a child does not return, how would the parents know whether the child has gone away on his own or has been kidnapped if you do not conduct investigation,” the court said, adding that the actual figures might be higher because the FIR is not registered in all cases. — IANS

New Delhi, April 22
A man was allegedly shot at by his friend last night in the Jama Masjid area of Old Delhi over money. While the accused is absconding, the victim is undergoing treatment at the LNJP Hospital and is critical.

The police said Shahid shot at Abbas. The incident took place around 11 pm near Kasturba Gandhi Hospital following an argument between the two over money.

The Jama Masjid police has lodged a case of attempt to murder against Shahid and has launched a manhunt to arrest him.

According to information, Shahid, Abbas were close friends and often loaned money to each other. Few months back, Shahid had borrowed Rs 20,000 from Abbas. However, when Abbas asked Shahid to return the money, he started making excuses and demanded more time. Two days ago, they had an argument over it and Abbas promised Shahid that he would return the money soon. Last night, the two met, and Abbas again demanded his money from Shahid. This irritated Shahid, who then fired at him.

According to the police, Abbas and Shahid are residents of the Kala Mahal area of Jama Masjid and Abbas is an active member of the Congress party. Shahid is a junk dealer. 

New Delhi, April 22
Two unidentified persons ransacked the car of BJP’s East Delhi candidate Chetan Chauhan and managed to escape with a briefcase after breaking the windowpane today afternoon. The incident took place around 12.30 pm near Ganesh Chowk in the Pandav Nagar area of East Delhi.

According to Chetan Chauhan’s staff, the briefcase contained some election-related documents. A case in this regard has been lodged at the Pandav Nagar police station.

According to information, Chauhan arrived here around 11 am in his white Scorpio car for canvassing in the Laxmi Nagar assembly constituency. He left the car at Ganesh Chowk near Mother Dairy and went for canvassing. The driver had locked the car and had gone to a shade for sometime. “When he came back, he found the windowpane broken and the suitcase missing from the back seat of the car. Bystanders told him that two persons on a motorcycle broke the windowpane and sped away with the briefcase within half a minute,” said Chauhan’s staff member.

Chauhan, who is contesting against Congress’ Sandeep Dikshit, said the incident reflected the Capital’s bad law and order situation. “The theft shows that the morale of robbers is very high in the Capital. It is a matter of great concern,” he added.