New Delhi, May 1
Thousands of labourers and rickshaw pullers working in Chandni Chowk are perturbed as they feel that none of the two major players in the constituency — Congress’ Kapil Sibal and BJP’s Vijender Gupta — have their issues in mind.

On the occasion of International Workers’ Day today, the labourers raised the issues that they face each day while working in Chandni Chowk.

“Nothing has been done to ensure our livelihood. There is a major problem of traffic in Chandni Chowk, but the only possible solution in the mind of political representatives is to remove rickshaws from the area,” said Ram, a rickshaw puller in the area.

Unlike many others, Ram has a vote in the constituency. “Just because most of us do not have votes in this area, the politicians take us for granted and try to snatch our livelihood. It is actually the cars that are parked on the streets that obstruct smooth flow of traffic,” he said.

Most of the daily wage labourers, who work in the shops of the Chandni Chowk market, do not get minimum wages. “Nobody is there to secure the rights of the labourers. It is only about implementing the already made acts and even that is not being done by our representatives,” said Asit Ganguli, advocate and a resident of Chandni Chowk.

Candidate of Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) from the constituency Bhim Singh Puri said he had to file nominations to provide the downtrodden with an alternative.

“No development has happened in Chandni Chowk in the last many years. Whatever minimum is there is because of the overall development of Delhi. Development for the common people is not just about constructing and reconstructing streets and dividers. Basic facilities are missing,” said Bhim Singh.

He said the people living in the narrow lanes of the walled city had no access to even emergency services.

“Asthma patients would get stuck on the way to the hospital. Basic medical services are not available in the residential area. Subways are being constructed at places they are least useful and here, there is no mechanism to join the lanes with the main street,” said Bhim Singh.

Residents living in the walled city said the transport problem was mainly because the government itself constructed a gallery in front of the shops on both sides.

“Shops have double shutters and space on the main street is illegally acquired by the shopkeepers. Half of the roads are occupied due to this,” said DK Sharma, another resident of Chandni Chowk.

Talking about preserving the heritage of the walled city, the residents said only money was released, but not a penny was spent on the monuments.

“Old havelies are lying unattended. The walled city is the Capital of the national Capital and it needs to be preserved,” said Asit Ganguli.

New Delhi, May 1
Construction workers and labourers protested against the dysfunctional status of Delhi Building and other construction workers welfare board outside the labour commissioner’s office here today.

They demanded disbursement of social security benefits like scholarships for children, medical assistance, maternity benefits and accident relief to those registered with the Delhi building and other construction workers welfare board.

“The Delhi Building and other construction workers welfare board was constituted to help workers and labourers, but it has hardly done anything for us,” said Jagveer Barki, a protester.

The workers also demanded pension that they are entitled to as per to the Construction Workers Act 1996.

Karim Khan, 68, said, “I started working when I was 15 years old. I have spent my whole life as a labourer. But I can no more work as I have breathing problem and cannot lift heavy objects. The only thing that could have helped me was a pension. However, it has been more than a year since I contacted the labour commissioner’s office for it, but I am yet to get a response.”

Shammi, another protester, said, “I lost my leg and hand while working on a construction site two years ago. The company paid me Rs 20,000 and promised to help my family. However, it has been a year and I have received no government help.”

Sanjay Kumar, leader of the protesters and national coordinator of Sewa Bharat, an oganisation that works for the cause of labourers, said, “The board has more than Rs 200 crore in its coffer but no tangible benefits have reached the workers since its inception in 2002.”

New Delhi, May 1
BJP’s general secretary Arun Jaitley today claimed the party and its allies had performed better in all states that voted in the third round of polling, except Karnataka.

He said the BJP was in a strong position in Assam, Bihar, MP, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Jharkhand and was likely to win 80 per cent of the seats. In Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh also the saffron party was in a strong position.

Jaitley said there was no possibility of the UPA coming to power again. Either the NDA or the Third Front would form the government, but even the Third Front could not form government without the BJP’s support, he added.

Jaitley said the election was being contested on national issues like deteriorating economic condition of the people, unemployment and terrorism.

In Delhi, the issue of sealing and demolition was also important, he said. Due to sealing, lakhs of traders had to close their establishments and many people lost their jobs, he added. 

New Delhi, May 1
As May 7, the polling day for the seven parliamentary constituencies in the national Capital approaches closer, the Delhi police is working over-time to plan and re-plan its strategies to avert any untoward incident.

According to a Delhi police official, the fact that the country’s capital is always on the radar for possible terror attacks, the election time asks for a thorough and full-proof security arrangements.

“Being the national capital, any terror attempt here attracts wide publicity and with chaos across the border, we definitely have to get our acts right. We cannot afford any laxity here,” said the official.

According to information, Delhi police would seal Capital’s borders from the evening of May 5 and any vehicle entering the city after that would be checked for any suspicious person or weapons.

“Sealing does not mean entry or exit would be stopped. It is a terminology we use for our intensive search for any miscreants,” explained the official.

Of the 42 entry points of the national Capital, the Delhi police has identified about 14 points which could be used by mischief mongers to enter the city. Hesitant to reveal the details, the official hinted at Ghazipur Border, Anand Vihar, Apsara, Noida, Sarita Vihar, Badarpur, Kapashera and Mundka being on their list.

As per information, after meetings with police officials from the neighbouring districts of UP and Haryana, it has been decided that while the vehicles entering the capital would be checked by the Delhi police, the vehicles leaving Delhi would be taken care of by the Haryana and UP police.

More than 30,000 police officials and a strong contingent of 10,000 home guards would be on the roads and polling booths on the day of voting. Besides, members of the Delhi armed police and para-military forces would also be ready for any emergency situation.

“Every district would be assigned armed policemen who would be at the disposal of the DCP and can be used if needs arise. There would also be trained commandos with sophisticated weapons who would move around to keep vigil in each district,” said a police official.

He revealed that the police has identified 191 sensitive and 28 highly-sensitive polling stations in the Capital, which is slightly less than last year’s assembly elections. East Delhi and North West district has six highly- sensitive polling stations while central district has five highly- sensitive booths. 

New Delhi, May 1
It was yet another difficult day for all residents of the Capital with the mercury soaring high recording a maximum of 44.2° Celsius, which is a departure of five degrees from the normal and is said to be the season’s hottest day.

The director of IMD, S.C. Bhan said that the temperatures would go northwards and that is primarily due to the dryness that is still persisting in the atmosphere. 

The heat waves since the last three days have indeed given a tough time to all those who had no other option than going out on their daily errands though many preferred to stay indoors.

Meanwhile, the minimum for the day was a notch above normal at 24.8° Celsius. 

Faridabad, May 1
As many as 24 persons are said to have received injuries, although the figure is understood to be much more in an outbreak of fire in a shoe factory, Lakhani (Vardan) Pvt Industries located here in Sector 24.

The fire broke out at about past 5 pm and the authorities could not douse the fire by 9 pm.

According to eyewitnesses, the cause of the fire was a blast in a high power boiler. There was a massive explosion as a result of which glass panes of nearby industries, including Escorts, were shattered. The Escorts is about 100 yards away from the boiler.

According to V.V.Prashar, chief medical officer of ESI hospital here, 24 injured persons in the fire were admitted in his institute. Three of the seriously injured have been referred to Safdarjung Hospital.

The Deputy SP, Faridabad, Kharaiti Lal, said legal action would be initiated against the management of the firm, if they were at fault.

The chairperson of the Lakhani group, K.C.Lakhani, said he was not in a position to make any comment.

According to Balam Singh, one of the workers admitted in Badshah Khan hospital, said suddenly a wave of fire line crossed him and he was soon engulfed in fire. 

Noida, May 1
The fear of swine flu in foreign countries has compelled a number of exporters in Noida to cancel their business trips abroad. Those who were expecting some buyers and visitors from USA and other countries have also advised them to postpone their Noida visits to some future dates.

This is likely to adversely affect export orders from abroad in industries like leather garments. The garment industry apprehends that if foreigners are stopped from coming in for the fears of swine flu investigation, it could seriously hit their business.

According to Asim Kumar, a leather garment exporter, Mexico is the biggest importer of leather garments. People desist from buying leather garments since they are mostly made from swine skins and hides.

In these circumstances, he felt it was possible they may opt for buying leather garments made in China.

Sunil Bhargava, another garment exporter, said “Some of our executives were to go to Mexico to show some designs to our buyers there. But all of them have been stopped from going due to safety and health considerations. We have accordingly informed our foreign buyers. But it is affecting our business adversely.”

Rajeev Bansal, managing director of another export company, says that some of their foreign buyers have postponed their visits to India owing to the health tests and investigation due to swine flu.

“In case they cancel their India visit, we will lose many valuable orders,” he said.

But the joint secretary of central health ministry, Vineet Choudhary, has reportedly refuted the possibility of effects of the swine flu in a foreign visitor in Hyderabad. He said primary investigations have not confirmed swine flu, so it is being sent to NICD New Delhi for full examination.

Chaudhary said the speed at which the disease was spreading, one crore tablets of Temy Flu have been ordered to be stocked to deal with the problem. Earlier only a stock of 20 lakh tables was ordered to be made. Tablets are being bought from companies like Ranbaxy, Cipla, Rosh India, etc.