New Delhi, May 5
Campaigning for seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi ends this evening with a Congress rally in North East Delhi and conferences by various candidates.

During one month of electioneering, the city has witnessed big rallies of Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, BJP’s prime ministerial candidate L. K. Advani, BSP supremo Mayawati, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, senior leader of the BJP Sushma Swaraj, road shows of film star Shakti Kapoor, TV personalities Smriti Irani and Parveen. Public and corner meetings were everyday scenes in the colonies.

The city has also witnessed a fight between supporters of West Delhi BJP and Congress candidates in a debate organised by a TV channel in a hotel in which one person sustained injuries.

The major political parties had also invited their supporters for lunch and dinner.

During electioneering, the Congress claimed that many BJP block leaders joined it. The BJP also did the same. Two days before the polling, the Congress managed to get withdrawn the candidature of BSP candidate in favour of its East Delhi contestant, Jaiprakash Agarwal, making his victory almost sure.

His counterpart BJP candidate felt upset after the BSP candidate withdrawal and one of his party leaders made a complaint against Jaiprakash Agarwal to the Election Commission.

However, Sandeep Dikshit campaigned from 6 a.m. to 2 p m. At 3 p.m., he also attended the rally of Rahul Gandhi.

East Delhi BJP candidate Chetan Chauhan ended his campaigning with a road show along with newly elected Delhi mayor Kanwar Sen.

West Delhi BJP candidate Jagdish Mukhi also ended his campaigning with a road show while his opponent Mahabal Mishra ended it with ‘Jai ho’ jingle.

While Congress candidate from South Delhi Ramesh Kumar tried to woo the backward voters, the BJP contestant Ramesh Bidhuri had a padyatra in Jat-dominated villages.

The last day of campaigning also saw the BJP candidate from the North West Delhi constituency, Meera Kanwariya, campaigning hectically.

On the other hand, the Congress candidate from the constituency, Krishna Tirath, adopted another track withdrawing from the campaigning altogether and sitting back confidently for a series of meetings with her workers to assess preparedness for the days ahead.

She held a series of public meetings at Mundka in Mongolpuri and Nangloi. She also took out an early evening padyatra in Mundka

The war of words in Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha Seat continued even today as Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Vijender Gupta lashed out at union minister of science and technology Kapil Sibal who is seeking re-election from the area on Congress’ ticket.

Gupta said, “Sibal should resign from the union cabinet after a CBI inquiry is ordered into a scam related to the purchase of radar and light detection system by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), which comes under the union ministry of science and technology.”

New Delhi, May 5
Instead of talking about the country’s development, the BJP and its allies want to divide the country in the name of religion and caste. This is the difference between the Congress and the BJP, pointed out Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi at a rally in North East Delhi today.

He asserted the BJP and its allies wanted development of the rich and the influential while the Congress worked for all without any discrimination.

Rahul was addressing a rally at Shastri Park in North East Delhi constituency.

He said that when NDA was in power the BJP’s slogan was “India Shining.” But it is not true. India is a country of poor people, farmers, labourers and people belonging to the middle-class. He said they were in a pitiable condition. He alleged only the influential and the powerful benefited during the NDA’s regime so it was thrown out of power in 2004.

Urging people to vote for Congress candidates, Rahul Gandhi termed the Congress as a people’s party.

Citing examples of violence against North Indians in Mumbai, Gujrat riots and attack on Christians in Orissa, Rahul alleged the BJP discriminated against people on the basis of region, religion and caste.

He added that farmers committed suicide during the NDA’s reign.

Listing the achievements of the Congress-led UPA government, he said when the UPA came to power in 2004, Rs 70, 000 crore were waived, Adiwasi and RTI Bills were passed. People were given the right to question the government.

Attacking the BJP and its allies, he said the BJP was talking about terrorism but it had forgotten that during the NDA government Masood Azhar, a dreaded terrorist was released. And after that, there were terrorist attacks on Parliament, the Red Fort, the Akashardham Temple and the Raghunath Temple took place.

He thanked voters for making the Congress victorious in Delhi for the third time. 

Faridabad, May 5
After several failed attempts on the part of Congress bigwigs to make the Haryana urban local bodies minister, A.C.Chaudhary and the two other MLAs, Karan Dalal and Mahender Pratap support the party nominee in Faridabad parliamentary constituency, the party high command has told them to fall into line or face action.

Things came to a boil when the three, who are said to be not supporting the Congress nominee, Avtar Singh Bhadana, did not turn up at the public meeting yesterday, which was to be addressed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. All the Congress MLAs as well as the Independent, supporting the Congress, came to the podium. But the three were conspicuously absent. It was another matter that Manmohan Singh did not address the meeting as his chopper could not take off from Delhi due to unfavourable weather conditions.

However, the general secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) and in charge of Haryana affairs, Prithviraj Chavan addressed the meeting.

The three rebels were called at the local circuit house yesterday after the meeting and were told by Chavan that either they support the Congress nominee or be prepared for action against them. It was told in no uncertain terms to them that the central leadership of the party had taken a serious note of their conduct.

The three tried to give excuses and indulge in blame game. They put the blame on the Congress nominee saying that he had made offensive utterances against them in the past.

Chavana, one of the main strategy-makers of the Congress, put his foot down and said that the excuses were not acceptable to the party. He made it known that the Lok Sabha election was Congress’ fight to make Manmohan Singh Prime Minister again.

The Chief Minister of Haryana, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the president of Haryana Congress, Phool Chand Maulana and the working president of Haryana Congress, Kuldip Sharma were present in the meeting. The Congress nominee, Avtar Singh Bhadana was also present in the meeting.

The three had arguments with Bhadana in presence of Chavan. Bhadana is said to have warned the MLAs that even they would face assembly election after a few months and he would not support them either. The Chief Minister intervened on the occasion and brought things under control.

Later, an undertaking of support to the Congress nominee was given to Chavan by all the MLAs, including the three, from Faridabad district. Harsh Kumar, an Independent, also signed on the document.

The MLAs have assured to work for the Congress nominee in the remaining time and work for his victory.

Meanwhile, the Congress led by its national secretary, G.Hanumanth Rao today claimed that the party would bag all the 10 parliamentary seats in Haryana.

Gurgaon, May 5
The political parties as well as candidates in the fray for the Lok Sabha poll slated for May 7 are an apprehensive lot. Too many marriages on the polling day seem to be their latest cause of concern.

According to inquiries made by The Tribune, many marriages are scheduled for May 7, which happens to be the poll date, and May 8.

Top contenders are worried lest their voters, who would be engaged in various rituals, should leave them in the lurch by not going to vote.

With nearly all banquet halls, farmhouses and party lawns booked for the two dates, politicians' concern seems justified.

Neeraj of Prakash Vatika and Deepak Gupta of Krishna Mangalam Garden confirmed there was heavy rush for bookings on May 7 and 8. "We had to turn away many customers as we were fully booked," he maintained.

The manager of another party lawn said after exhausting all available banquet halls and farmhouses, marriage parties had booked tents as well.

"With my sister's wedding scheduled for May 7, I don't think I would get time to vote," said Mayank of Sector 56 here. "I know voting is our duty, but sister's wedding is a greater responsibility" he said.

But why so many marriages on May 7 and 8?

According to Pt Lalit Shastri, an astrologer, May 8 is an auspicious day. "May 7 is also good, especially for those who do not want to wait for the next auspicious dates, which are far," he adds. However, Shastri asserted his "professional" engagements notwithstanding, he would definitely cast his vote. Well, some respite for the anxious netas, eh?

New Delhi, May 5
What keeps our senior politicians, many of whom are in the 70-plus category, healthy in the heat and dust of the campaign trail? Answer: their frugal eating habits, active lifestyle and an inner drive powered by the adrenaline rush they get when they interact with people.

“It amazes me that a lot of people get exhausted and tired as they cross 60 or even earlier, whereas these leaders are doing really well despite their taxing schedules and irregular dietary habits,” said Ashok Seth, head of cardiology at the Max Heart and Vascular Institute .

“During campaigning the entire atmosphere pumps you up. They give speeches, meet voters and their adrenaline levels shoot. They are motivated to not let daily health problems affect them,” said Seth, who has treated many senior leaders.

Most senior leaders claim they are fit. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, 76, who underwent a complex heart surgery in January, was said to have recouped fast. However, the number of campaign rallies he has addressed has been relatively low, especially when compared to opposition leader L.K. Advani of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who is 81.

“The PM is absolutely fit now. His recovery was very speedy and we attribute this to his willpower and wish to be active,” said his physician K.S. Reddy.

“Working actively in any sphere, even politics, can lead to a fast recovery,” he added.

Advani has said in interviews that he has frugal eating habits, drinks lots of liquid and maintains a disciplined routine every day without unnecessarily stressing himself.

“I don’t know why media keeps harping on his age,” Advani’s daughter Pratibha told CNN-IBN, saying her father was fitter than people half his age.

Several senior leaders follow a strict regime of “eating light”, exercise and sleep during the campaign, while others like 69-year-old Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and 59-year-old Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP leader Narendra Modi rely on meditation and yoga to keep themselves fit.

Mulayam Singh’s aide Rajendra Choudhury said, “Since he is from a rural background and has had 50 years of struggle and an active life — his stamina and energy don’t waver.”

“He has been in politics for over 30 years — he is still as energetic as ever. No young leader can match up to him or his spirit. His determination keeps him going. He is fit. He sleeps for four to five hours, eats simple food — since it is summer he drinks cold drinks and lots of water.”

Sameer Parikh, a psychiatrist, emphasised that for these aged politicians who play pivotal roles in the country’s politics there is a mindset that they cannot fail. This compounds their willpower.

“It is the high point in their life and they feel they cannot fail here — their willpower and power of mind have a role to play in keeping them physically healthy. But for politicians, the fact that they are passionate and engaged with the public that gives them energy to keep troubles at bay. A high level of functioning does perk up the immune system,” he said.

The fact that 65 per cent of India’s voters are under the age of 35 and that 100 million are first-time voters this election require that these old politicians impress despite their age constraints.

Advani was even seen trying out weights at a gymnasium as a part of a campaign to woo young voters.

External affairs minister and senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee, 74, on the campaign trail in Murshidabad, told the media, “Above all I am a political leader and so I get an adrenaline rush when I meet people.” — IANS

New Delhi, May 5
If you thought politics was the preserve of the corrupt or the criminal, think again. The 15th Lok Sabha polls boast of a new breed of candidates who are professionals, well-educated and motivated people the middle class can identify with.

Bankers, doctors and graduates of IITs and IIMs among others are in the fray this time.

“For many years there is a myth that all politicians are criminal and corrupt, but in the meantime Indian democracy has emerged stronger. Educated professionals have decided to plunge into politics,” said Imtiyaz Ahmad, a political scientist from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

Ahmad feels the participation of professionals as independent candidates or as those who float their own party is an expression of dissatisfaction with tried and tested politicians.

Rajendra Thakar, who contested from North Mumbai on a Professionals Party of India ticket, is one of them.

“India needs new parties as the traditional outfits are engrossed in corruption,” said Thakar.

Bharat Punarnirman Dal is a party made up of IIT graduates that has put up 40 candidates across India.

Britain-based consultant Kumar Kuntikanamta came all the way to Mangalore to contest. “I think Indians want a change, but very few are willing to act. People criticise politicians but they don’t want to join it,” he said.

Meera Sanyal, a banker who contested as an independent from South Mumbai exudes confidence about her victory.

The presence of independent candidates this time has made parties wary that they would cut into crucial votes.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had last month said independent candidates were ‘spoilers’ and urged people not to vote for them.

Young voters are attracted to independent candidates.

Apurva Upadhyaya, a first time voter, said, “I will rather vote for a new and young party, may be an independent, as traditional parties have not been able to perform as well as they should have.” — IANS

New Delhi, May 5
Twelve years after being falsely implicated of rape and later convicted, four men were today acquitted by the Delhi High Court.

A sex worker allegedly with the help of some Delhi police officials had laid the charges against them.

One of the men, Pankaj Chaudhari in his plea stated he was “paying the price for opposing a flesh trade racket near his house in 1997.”

He was arrested with his brother Gunjesh and friends Jailal Yadav and Kashim Rain on charges of raping a neighbour.

They were jailed on July 28, 1997 and were convicted of gang rape in 2000.

The officials posted at Hauz Khas police station in 1997, apparently, at the instance of their neighbour, a sex worker, framed them as they protested against the racket.

Subsequently, an inquiry was ordered within the police department. The High Court released the four men on bail in 2001.

“The rape allegations have maligned us. We are facing great hardships in finding jobs. We have been thrown out of jobs and are unable to live with dignity as we are called ‘rapists’,” they stated in their petition.

Justice S. Muralidhar acquitted the four, but reserved order on the plea of taking action against the then police officials involved in the case.

After they were convicted in 2000, their relatives alleged foul play, which led Amod Shastri, heading an NGO called Nyay Bharti, to probe the case.

Shastri’s efforts revealed that while the woman claimed she was raped at 9.30 p.m. by the four, another complaint in the same police station showed that she was arrested the same afternoon for indulging in flesh trade and let off at 10.30 p.m. after paying a bond of Rs 500. This indicated that she was at the police station at the time she claimed to have been raped at her home. — IANS

New Delhi, May 5
The chief of the capital’s civic body administration faces contempt charges for not abiding by the Delhi High Court’s orders on night sweeping in the city.

Justice Manmohan issued a notice to Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) commissioner K.S. Mehra and directed him to file a detailed reply in three weeks.

On last Tuesday, the court had issued the notice on a petition of advocate Ravinder Raj, who sought contempt proceedings against the MCD commissioner, the Delhi chief secretary and the chairman of the Central Pollution Control Board for not implementing the court directions on night sweeping in the capital.

Following the directions of the High Court in April 2003, the MCD had decided to continue night cleaning in 46 select zones on a permanent basis and to extend it to more zones in future.

Night sweeping in 46 zones was started on an experimental basis.

The MCD decision came following a public interest petition that sought a change in schedule for sweeping the city’s streets from morning to night time.

The court had also directed the petitioner to give further suggestion to the MCD in this regard.

“It is hoped that the suggestions will be taken in the right spirit and action will be taken within a period of one year,” the court had then said.

In the contempt petition, advocate Raj submitted that the respondents had not taken any action.

The petitioner had sent representations to the commissioner of the civic body, Delhi Chief Minister and the Lieutenant Governor but no action was taken.

“City roads are swept between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m., exposing schoolchildren, office-goers and morning walkers to dust. Dust pollution can cause severe ailments, apart from being a public nuisance. Health experts say dust has carcinogenic components like lead and aluminium,” the petitioner said. — IANS