New Delhi, November 14
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today inaugurated the Delhi pavilion at the India International Trade Fair orgainsed at Pragati Maidan here. This year Delhi is the partner state in the fortnight-long fair.

A music band along with cartoon mascots entertained the crowds, forcing even Dikshit shake a leg with them.

Titled ‘Delhi@10’, the pavilion has been designed to accommodate the most vibrant aspects of the city including tourism, food, clothes, nightlife and much more. It also shows the city’s heritage and the achievements Delhi has made in the past 10 years. As many as 30 to 40 lakh visitors are expected to throng the pavilion this time.

The interiors of the pavilion have been remodeled by the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC), covering 1,422 sq meters.

The pavilion has a special Delhi Jal Board (DJB) section that elaborates new ways to clean the Yamuna. Infrastructural projects like the Metro, flyovers, elevated ring roads, HCBS corridor, low-floor buses are also being highlighted. Besides, the pavilion also features the city’s preparation for the upcoming Commonwealth Games.

The pavilion will show 3D tableaux of the Games, including previous games’ mascots in the form of puppets. Visitors can also see performances by Games mascot Sheru and his associate.

Apart from governmental advancements, the pavilion will also give visitors a taste of what Delhi is about. Shopping at the pavilion will be quite an experience for visitors. The pavilion also has stalls of silver jewellery, kurtis, footwear and other accessories.

Dikshit said, “The idea is to display all changes the Capital has witnessed over the last few years and to make people aware about the Games to be hosted by the city next year. A substantial portion of the pavilion has been used for showcasing the government’s preparation.”

Interestingly, the PWD which is carrying out Games-related projects in the Capital has not displayed anything.

New Delhi, November 14
The Commonwealth Games organising (CWG) committee has planned to project India as a spiritually rich country for the foreigners visiting during the Games.

Apart from taking them to cultural shows and culinary tours, they would be taken to the famous religious places in Delhi and around the country.

The tour and travel department has organised special religious tours and packages for the foreign visitors visiting India for the Games.

“We are taking Commonwealth Games as the best opportunity for getting the world acquainted with the spiritual side of India,” said Sunil Kundu, member of tour and travel department of CWG. The packages for tourists from Islamic countries include visits to places like Dargah of Hazrat Nizamuddin in south Delhi and Ajmer Sharif in Rajasthan.

“At Hazrat Nizamuddin, one can walk the ancient crowded alleys to explore monuments and sites associated with famous Sufi saints,” said Kundu.

Other places that would be offered for sightseeing are Akshardham Temple, Chattarpur Mandir, Lotus Temple and ISKON temple.

“These places make Delhi a unique Capital. We would suggest Akshardham temple to foreign guests as it is the one of the biggest and most intricate religious places ever constructed. This would give tourists an experience of ancient India and the best of Hindu culture and Vedic civilization,” added Kundu.

Delhi has an advantage of proximity to various northern states which have one of the most popular religious places. For getting a flavour of Sikhism, the Games travel office has planned tour to the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Other religious tours include Haridwar, Rishikesh, Banaras and Varanasi.

“Bodh Gaya in Bihar is another important religious destination for tourists,” said Kundu.

New Delhi, November 14
"Delhi has become an elite city where only the rich and strong can live. Poor people like me have no place here. I have decided to go back to my village Pilibheet, leaving the mad city behind for ever," said Maya, a maid.

Maya is one of those residents who has failed to survive due to the steep hike in prices of vegetables and other items.

"How can the government be so insensitive to a poor man's problem? Dal has become a Divali or Eid item for us," said Maya before leaving Delhi.

The rising prices of basic goods have caused a lot of heat and dust. The increase in the price of 'aata' has shocked people. The flour which used to cost around Rs 10-12 per kg a few months ago, costs Rs 18 per kg today, confirmed a grocery shop owner. He added in 2007, he sold the same flour at Rs 6 per kg.

Arvind Kumar, a watchman, says, "The city is driving us mad. Leave alone savings, it is difficult to live and eat. The salaries should also have been increased accordingly."

The worst hit here is, of course, the common man, who finds his food bill has bloated over the last one year. A quick check at a retail shop reveals that rice is up by Rs 6 per kg, prices of pulses like tuvar and masoor have risen by Rs 10/ kg. Even edible oil is costlier by Rs 21 a litre. Ghee is up by Rs 35 a kg.

In a metropolitan city like Delhi where a majority of the population earns less than Rs 100 a day, soaring food price is not just a serious economic and social issue, but also a political hot potato.

Azad Rakshak, a rickshaw puller, said, "I toil hard all day and then too I fail to feed my brother and myself. I feel I should get myself behind bars in a petty case. At least, I would get a roof to sleep in and food to eat daily."

The price of perishable goods, onion and potato, has also noticed a steep hike. The price of potato is hovering around Rs 25 to 28 per kg, the onion is for Rs 20 to Rs 25 per kg at Azadpur Mandi. So is the case with the other vegetables like tomato, carrot, capsicum, jack fruit and lemon.

The wholesale price of potato at Azadpur Mandi has risen from Rs 380 per quintal last year to Rs 1330 per quintal this year. "The potato that we sold for almost 4 Rs/kg during November last year is costing us Rs 16 to 18 per kg now," said Umesh Aggarwal, a wholesale retailer at Azadpur Mandi.

The other retailers in the mandi said that after the price rise in October, they were expecting arrival of fresh harvest from Rajasthan in November. But due to some crop problems, the prices have not gone down.

Anant Jha, son of a sweeper, said, "For me, the government is for the rich, by the rich and of the rich. Nothing is done for the poor. There seems to be a conspiracy to remove the poor out of Delhi."

New Delhi, November 14
Flavours at the Dastakar ‘Nature Bazaar’ continue to tempt visitors even at a new location— Indira Gandhi National Centre of Arts (IGNCA). Till last year, Delhi Haat had been hosting the annual fair.

Even though the bazaar’s new address seems to have affected the sales at many stalls, the vibrant crafts at the fair with its colorful displays, cultural programmes and workshops remain unchanged.

One of the main attractions this year is the designers’ corner where more than 20 young designers exhibit different contemporary items. Yet another first-timer at the fair is the highly expensive Bhutan weave.

As above 160 craft groups from more than 18 states bring their native craft techniques to the bazaar this year, project coordinator Priyanka elaborates that for the first time, the bazaar also sees participation from Bangladesh and Bhutan. The festival is set on the Monkey and the Banana Tree theme.

Coupled with the wide array of offerings, including handicrafts, furniture, textiles and food, several performances promise to soothe your nerves. The bazaar has it all from contemporary dance to kathputali shows, kathak recital to workshops on painting, weaving looms, theatre, pottery, etc.

“My kids just loved the puppet show here. They are almost glued to the stalls showing puppets,” said Katherine, a German tourist.

Chairperson of Dastkar Laila Tyabji said, “The events are very popular with people. The response has been quite positive. The place looks beautiful and doesn’t even feel like a first-time here.”

Vegetable-dyed, block-printed Rajasthani fabric, muted Bhagalpur silks, embroidery from Bhuj, and embroidered leather jooties remain a hit with teenagers and young professionals even this year.

“Dastkar today is a big brand name. My favorite picks are Rajasthani stoles, Himachali silver jewellery and kohlapuri chappals,” said Avantika, a college student.

Although the fervour remains with the inflow of guests this year, many craft groups are worried if the sales drop because of the new venue.

Riaz Ahmad, owner of the Srinagar Craft stall, said, “Buyers are less this year compared to the last year. Our stall is lined up with copper items, pashmina shawls, and papier mache items which are quite a hit in Delhi, but this time the enthusiasm is less.”

However, the organisers maintain that the new venue is much better and Dastakar is also planning its spring bazaar at the same venue in January.

“We tabulate everyday sales at the bazaar. The overall analysis of the sales made this year will only be possible once the fair ends on November 14,” said one of the organisers.

New Delhi, November 14
It was no child’s play even as kids performed like veterans on stage. The ninth edition of Jashnebachpan, the annual national theatre festival for children, organised by Sanskaar Rang Toli (SRT) of National School of Drama (NSD), today performed its last play ‘Brahm Rakshas Ka Nai’.

For the last 14 days since November 1, the festival showcased 22 select performances out of total 100 plays dedicated to children’s theatre. All the plays were performed by children from 19 states in seven languages, including one which was performed by children with special needs.

The festival received overwhelming response from the people of Delhi.

“The response was so amazing even at the first day of the opening of the festival that a play called ‘simple dreams’ had to be performed twice,” said the coordinator for the festival, Suman Nath.

The rising interest in children’s theatre is apparent this year in the number of entries for the festival, say NSD officials.

“We had over a 100 entries for the festival, and had a very hard time selecting only 22 plays. Next year, we plan to increase the number,” said an official of NSD.

He said that this year has also seen brisk sale of tickets. NSD sources said that the first day of the festival saw the featured play being staged twice on popular demand.

The festival featured not only children’s theatre but had educational elements for the children to learn through the plays. All the plays performed during this festival had a certain social or moral message for the children. The productions were designed in a way so that it can entertain and educate children in an artistic manner.

“Children are pure like milk and clear like glass. Whatever they receive from society and parents is their truth. A play with strong characters and a good lineage of thinking can leave deep imprints on the minds of small children,” said Kalapi Dholakia, director of ‘Paanjare Purayan Pappa Mummy’.

The troupe from Koshish that performed ‘Andher Nagri Choupat Raja’ comprises children with special needs right from autism to slow learners.

“Theatre is an effective tool to help special children learn social skills. It is very difficult to teach in a classroom setting. And we feel honoured that our play got selected,” said one of the instructors of the play.

New Delhi, November 14
With the arrest of four persons, including a dismissed Tihar Jail constable, the south Delhi police has claimed to have solved 15 cases of abduction, kidnapping, robbery, snatching and Arms Act.

Three pistols, live cartridges, one knife and three vehicles — one WagonR car and two bikes have been seized.

The accused identified as Mukesh, alias Sanichar (25), Sandeep, alias Gullak (36), Nayeem (29) and Jagjit, alias Jaggi (36), were arrested near Jor Bagh, Lodhi Road, last evening. They were waiting in a tinted WagonR to rob a businessman who was due to pass that way.

The police said gang members posing as Delhi police officials mostly targeted hawala businessman. “They preferred to strike against traders who deal in illegal hawala/ angadiya transactions,” said HGS Dhaliwal, DCP (south).

Sandeep, a dismissed Tihar Jail constable, said over two years ago they robbed a businessman carrying Rs 35 lakh at Ring road near Civil Lines area. The police said gang is responsible for robbing Rs 15 lakh from a businessman in Old Delhi, besides, Rs 10 lakh from an employee of a Kashmiri Gate-based businessman.

A businessman was shot at and robbed of Rs 7 lakh in the Rana Pratap Bagh area a week ago. The role of this gang is suspected and the police is interrogating the gang members. 

Ghaziabad, November 14
A factory manufacturing pure dhesi ghee from animal fat was razed by angry villagers in Hapur on Friday. Hundreds of farmers from five villages reached the site and destroyed the factory.

Situated in the jungles of Sarai and Dhandhraula villages under Hapur rural police station area, a "soap factory" was actually manufacturing desi ghee from animal fat. The owner of the farm maintained that soap was being manufactured there. The farmers had come to know the truth on Thursday night when farm owner Shabir was summoned and told to stop the work, but he did not agree to it. As a result, farmers raided the 'so-called soap factory' on Friday morning and razed it. They also destroyed two trucks loaded with animal fat. Drums on big kilns were also smashed by angry people.

After a while police reached the spot and seized eight drums of fat and two vehicles. Police circle officer Sheel Kumar said one Garh Gate resident, Islamuddin had taken Shabir's farm on rent for setting up a soap factory, but he started manufacturing ghee. Police arrested Anwar and Wasim. An FIR has been registered against Islamuddin, Anwar, Shabir and Wasim by Hapur rural police.

Gt Noida, November 14
A woman here alleged that Rs 5 lakh had been illegally withdrawn from the Dankore branch her State Bank of India account. She has alleged the involvement of bank staff in it.

Following the woman’s complaint, the ADM has summoned the bank manager and his staff for questioning.

The district administration had decided to send a report to the government due to similar frauds taking place repeatedly in this bank.

An FIR is being registered at the Dankore police station against the allegedly accused bank staff members.

Subadhra, a resident of Dadpur, has an account No. 01170009766 in State Bank of India at Dankore. Subadhra had gone to the bank to withdraw Rs. 5,000 from her account On June 6, 2008. As she is illiterate, she had requested Manoj, a bank employee, to fill her form. She had also given the passbook to Manoj.

Manoj then escorted Subadhra to the bank cashier, who after paying her Rs 5,000 kept her passbook, saying that the computer was down; hence, entry would be made later.

When Subadhra again went to the bank on October 9 this year, where she was told that Rs 5 lakh had been withdrawn from her account. She reported the matter to the branch manager, but he turned deaf ears on her complaint.

And hence, she met the ADM (Administration), O.P. Arya.

ADM had called manager Kuber Dutt on Friday and said cash had been withdrawn fraudulently from this branch earlier also.

Total Rs 90.60 lakh had been withdrawn from the accounts of eight account holders in the bank, he added.

New Delhi, November 14
A 22-year-old boy was killed in an accident when a truck hit him in the Uttam Nagar area of west Delhi last evening.

The deceased, Babloo, was a tailor and stayed in JJ Colony across the Uttam Nagar police station. The incident occurred around 11 pm near Uttam Nagar Chowk.

“Babloo was standing on one side of the road when a truck had hit him and he died ,” the police said.

Though the driver fled the scene, those who witnessed the accident, burnt the front cabin of the truck. Even the PCR van at the spot had to face people’s ire.

After two hours, the body could be taken for autopsy. 

New Delhi, November 14
It was a day out at Rashtrapati Bhavan today for 450 children from across the country.

Dressed in colourful attire, students from 29 schools, including underprivileged children, were taken for a round at the President’s house.

Children and teachers from Andhra Pradesh schools, too, joined the celebrations.

President Pratibha Patil addressed children by paying regards to Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, whose birthday is celebrated as Children’s Day. She spoke to the children about their aspirations and interests.

The students included five differently-abled children from Rashtriya Vijayanand Andh Vidhyalaya and 10 from All-India Deaf and Dumb Society.

Patil encouraged the teachers to help students in building an educated youth. “A teacher’s role is very significant in a student’s career,” Patil added.

NGOs like Bachpan Bachao Andolan joined hands with the city’s Maxfort School and distributed woollens to the children.

The ministry of women and child development awarded the National Child Awards to 25 children.