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Govt may reduce cooking gas price
Fashion week first show goes up in smoke
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Jewellery made of recycled clothes at women crafts mela
Woman moves court for daughter taken away by husband
‘Organisations insensitive to sexual harassment’
B.Tech., most popular at Jamia this year
DTU students call off stir, for now
Actor held for murders
20 injured as bus overturns
Blind Hansraj student was not murdered: Cops
Home ministry official goes missing
Infrastructure will be Games’ legacy: CM
12-yr-old shot at in marriage revelry
Class XII student commits suicide
Doctor hangs self
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Govt may reduce cooking gas price
New Delhi, March 24 According to sources, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has decided to reduce the rate of cooking gas by Rs 12 per cylinder. If it is done, the cylinder will be available at Rs 323 from April 1. After withdrawal of subsidy, it had become Rs 335 per cylinder. The government may also reduce VAT on diesel and CNG. People are already bearing the brunt of inflation, the increase in VAT will put more burden on them. What’s more if VAT on CNG is not reduced, the bus and auto fares will further rise. The auto drivers and bus transporters may then go on strike demanding increase in the fare. That’s the main reason the government is planning to reduce VAT, the sources added. |
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Increased VAT to cause revenue loss to Delhi: CAIT New Delhi, March 24 Enhancement of value added tax (VAT) may affect the trade in Delhi adversely. Delhi is a distribution centre and with the hike in VAT, rates of consumer items will rise. If the government sticks to the hiked VAT, its revenue will come down, said secretary-general of the Confederation of All India Traders, Parveen Khandelwal. Lambasting the Delhi government for its annual budget, Khandelwal said that the government could lose trade worth around Rs 60,000 crore annually. This will cause a loss of revenue of Rs 5,000 crore. Traders from other states will not come to Delhi. As per an estimate, Delhi’s annual business is around Rs 2 lakh crore and the VAT collection is around Rs 15,000 crore per annum. If the budget proposals are passed without amendments, inflation will rise further. The city government should realize the gravity of the matter and roll back VAT on diesel and other items, said Khandelwal. Meanwhile, Delhi State Organizing Committee of the Socialist Unity Centre of India (C) condemned the budget proposals, saying that they had been designed to fill the coffers of monopoly houses. Not only has the state government withdrawn the subsidy of Rs 40 on an LPG cylinder but it has also levied 5 per cent VAT on CNG. This has been done in a most calculative way. The Chief Minister has now indicated that her government is considering withdrawal of VAT on LPG.
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Fashion week first show goes up in smoke
New Delhi, March 24 According to the city fire department, the organizers of the events, Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), failed to comply with the fire norms. Denying charges of the harried designers and the organizers that they were ‘surprised and shocked’ by the event, R C Sharma, director, Fire Control Department of the Delhi government, said that the organizers were told yesterday itself about the norms to be fulfilled for getting the NOC. “A team of our officials had visited the spot on March 22 and told the organizers about our requirements. They complied with most of them but when our team went there again yesterday, it found that the four wooden pandals which required polishing were left as they were. The organizers were specifically told to polish the wooden structure since it was made of inflammable. Hence, the NOC was not issued,” said Sharma. He said the organisers had applied for the NOC on March 19, but as the next days were Saturday and Sunday, the fire officials visited the site only on Monday. According to information, the police visited the venue this afternoon and stalled the proceedings in the absence of NOC. Sunil Sethi, president FDCI, expressed regret over the stalling of proceedings. “All the shows have been cancelled keeping the safety of everyone in mind. We have not been able to get the permission from the fire department and are very sorry of the inconvenience caused to all the participants,” said Sethi, announcing the cancellation of the proceedings. Designer Nida Mahmood, who was to open the fashion week with her collection along with accessory designer Little Shilpa at 12 p.m., was almost in tears at the unexpected delay in the show. According to fire officials, the painting of the woods in the pandals was started in the evening and the work was going on. “The work is on and once it finishes, we would inspect the spot and then issue the NOC,” said Sharma. |
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Jewellery made of recycled clothes at women crafts mela
New Delhi, March 24 Among different groups, Delhi-based NGO Jan Sandesh has displayed jewellery pieces made of recycled clothes. “From hairpins to jewellery sets, all accessories are made of clothes. These items have been prepared by slum women of New
Seemapuri,” said Shanti Paswaan, founder of the NGO. To preserve art forms and talent in Gujarat, Kala
Raksha, a group working with women artisans in the state, has put up various types of ‘bandhini’ and other works on display. “We help artisans preserve their techniques and use it for making products that can cater to the needs of people living in metros. There is a huge market in big cities for craft items. We aim to bridge the gap between consumers and artisans but without compromising on the authenticity,” said
Shabri, a member of Kala Raksha. Khadi stoles and fabrics from Madhya Pradesh at ‘Gudi
Mudi’ is also a favorite among visitors at the mela. “We weave the cloth at our centre in Khargone district, Madhya
Pradesh. Even the dying is taken care of by us. Most women working with us are middle-aged married women from villages,” said
Khurshid, a member of Gudi Mudi. Many widows or women from economically weak families have found an opportunity to better their family’s lot by working in an organised way to produce traditional works of their region. The mela will conclude tomorrow evening. On March 27, products at the mela will be displayed at Crafts Museum in the Capital. The SEWA will launch a programme called ‘Ananta’ that would enable women artisans to partner with international designers. |
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Woman moves court for daughter taken away by husband
New Delhi, March 24 In her complaint, filed a few weeks ago before metropolitan magistrate Gaurav Rao, the woman said that on March 6, her husband forcibly took away her daughter from outside her house where she was playing. She added that even after repeated complaints to the SHO of the Nihal Vihar police station and the ACP concerned, no action was taken against her husband. She also submitted that the SHO did not even bother to take the photograph of the child. Allowing the plea of the mother, the court has ordered the issue of a search warrant and has directed the SHO concerned to produce the child before it on March 26, the next date of hearing. The court also pulled up the SHO for his careless approach towards such a sensitive issue. “I am constrained to observe that the SHO has disappointed the court by his careless approach. Though he claimed that efforts were being made to trace the child, he admitted today that he had not even once bothered to obtain the photograph of the minor girl. I fail to understand how without the photographs of the girl, the SHO shall be able to trace the child,” court said. The court also termed the act of the husband of keeping the child beyond the reach of the mother as ‘wrongful confinement’. Complainant, Avneet Kaur, alias Sweety, was married to Ravinder Singh on October 17, 2004. After the marriage, she was continuously harassed and maltreated for not bringing sufficient dowry. Ultimately, she was thrown out of her house in Kirti Nagar and was forced to stay with her parents at Chander Vihar. The child in question, Jasbani Kaur, was born in October 2006. On March 6, while Jasbir was playing outside her house around 8.30 pm, Ravinder took her away without any information. Since then, Avneet has not seen her Jasbani. |
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‘Organisations insensitive to sexual harassment’
New Delhi, March 24 “Learning self-defence mechanisms and carrying pepper sprays are not the answers to avoiding sexual harassment. What we want is a concrete Act that can discourage men from sexually harassing women and root out this problem,” she added. The seminar was organised by PRIA in collaboration with the ILO and Solution Exchange for Gender Community at the UNDP Conference Hall today. The participants talked about how women’s organisations were still struggling to bring into force the Bill for the protection of women. The participants unanimously agreed that the implementation of the 13-year-old Supreme Court guidelines, commonly known as the Vishakha guidelines about making complaint committees and adopting preventive measures in organisations across India had been poor. Giving an overview of the Bill, M.R. Mohanty, director, ministry of women and child development, said, “I believe that every woman who enters a work environment has the right to be protected, hence we need the Act in place.” He, however, added, “Unfortunately, one or two false cases get more hype than many genuine cases of harassment, which makes the passing of the Bill difficult.” “There should be a provision against people registering false cases, as one false case against an employee can actually undo the years of service he has provided to an organisation. This also tarnishes his image for life. We have to thus make sure that this Bill is not misused,” said Meanwhile, Secretary of State, United States, Hillary Clinton, offered her “sincere gratitude and heartfelt congratulations to the leaders and supporters of women’s empowerment.” Many women leaders had attended a reception hosted by US Ambassador to India, Timothy J. Roemer, today in honour of Women’s Month and the embassy later issued Clinton’s statement. She recalled her last visit to India in July 2009 and her meeting with several “impressive” women leaders, some of whom attended the meet this evening. “The presence of such extraordinary leadership in India gives me great hope and certainty that we will continue to see remarkable things from the people of India through the examples, creativity, courage and entrepreneurial spirit present in these women and countless others like them,” she said. |
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B.Tech., most popular at Jamia this year
New Delhi, March 24 The university’s spokesperson, Simi Malhotra, said that the maximum queries were coming from students applying for B.Tech. programme. The other popular courses this season are B.Ed and elementary education courses. The last date for submission of forms for the two courses is April 22. Rajeev Jain, an applicant who came to the university, said he was interested in multi-media course at Mass Communication and Research Centre (MCRC). “I want to have a career in television journalism and this centre is reputed. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I make it. I am also getting some information for the entrance test.” History at the centre for humanities and languages is also fairly popular among applicants. A large number of forms have already been sold at the centre. The last date for the sale and submission of forms is May 6. The sale of forms had begun on March 18. For all courses at Jamia, applicants will have to face both an entrance test and an interview. The entrance tests will begin on June 3. The lists of candidates for interviews will be out on June 11 and the first list of selected candidates will be available by July 2. Jamia has also started a number of new courses like— a B.A. (hons) in tourism and hospitality. It is an older course that has been converted to B.A. (hons). It will have eight papers in different aspects of tourism and hospitality. Sanskrit has been introduced for B.A. (pass). It has also been introduced at subsidiary level for undergraduate courses in the faculty of humanities, social science and natural science. At the postgraduate level, two new courses have been introduced, masters in physiotherapy (MPT-sports) and Ph.D. in physiotherapy which will be taught at centre for physiotherapy and re-habilitation sciences. The Ph.D. course has only 10 seats. |
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DTU students call off stir, for now
New Delhi, March 24 “We have decided to stop the ongoing agitation for now, but if our demands are not considered, the protests would resume right after the mid-semester exams,” said Ravi
Shekhar, president, DTU Students’ Association. The students have decided to sit for the rescheduled mid-semester exams from March 29. The exams were rescheduled after most of the students boycotted them. “Students would lose one semester if we boycott these examinations. We will sit for the exams, wearing black bands as mark of protest,” said
Shekhar. The university administration has, however, not received any formal representation from the protesting students. “The students have not conveyed anything to us, but the university would not conduct the mid-semester examinations again under any circumstances,” said Rashmi
Sablania, spokesperson, DTU, in a veiled warning to students that the administration would not buckle again if they continue with their boycott. She said the expulsion of two student leaders had not been taken back. “The expelled students have not tried to communicate with the administration and we too have taken no decision,” said
Sablania. Earlier, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had reiterated in the Assembly that the Delhi government was justified in taking over the college and converting it into a state university. She said the state government wanted to make DTU one of the best institutes of engineering. Students, too, have started returning to college hostel. Around 20 students returned to their rooms today, but maximum students are expected to be back tomorrow, as the examinations would start in two days. The exams would end on April 3. |
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Actor held for murders
New Delhi, March 24 The police said that Hasmi had escaped from the police custody twice. "He was arrested near DLF Emporia Mall at Vasant Kunwith one pistol and two live cartridges. The Delhi and the UP police had announced rewards of Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 respectively on his arrest," said HGS Dhaliwal, DCP (south). He added that Hasmi had admitted his involvement in two murders. Hasmi reportedly started criminal activities in Ghaziabad after leaving school. "He became a goon of his locality. He had an enmity with one Zulfikar, a goon of the same locality. In 2003, to become the leader of the locality, he murdered Zulfikar. This case is pending in court. He is likely to be convicted as witnesses have deposed against him during trial," said Dhaliwal adding that he escaped from the custody of UP police in July 2007. Thereafter, he went to Mumbai where he came in contact with some actors. He started working in Bollywood films as a part-time actor. He worked there till December 2007. He then returned to Delhi. "During this period, he murdered one Firoz in Mirzapur, Ghaziabad. His brother Azhruddin and two cousins -- Wasim and Asif -- were arrested for being involved in the crime, but he remained at large," the officer revealed. |
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20 injured as bus overturns
New Delhi, March 24 “The accident happened when an overloaded TATA-407 bus carrying nearly 35 passengers overturned after a tyre puncture. Twenty people suffered injuries and were rushed to GTB hospital. Four passengers, including the bus driver, are admitted to the hospital,” said the police.
The driver has been identified as Lal Singh (32) while the identity of other three injured is not clear. All the passengers, residents of Vishwash Nagar in Shahdara, were going to Preet Vihar temple to offer prayers for which they had booked the bus. When the bus was coming down from Preet Vihar flyover, its tyre punctured causing the accident, police said. “The driver lost his control over the vehicle and the bus turned turtle,” added the officer. The bus has been impounded and a case registered as it was overloaded. |
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Metro crane topples, 2 hurt
New Delhi, March 24 “The crane was standing in the barricaded area and was involved in lifting rods at this site when it toppled and its boom hit an autorickshaw outside the barricaded area,” said Anuj
Dayal, spokesperson, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. The driver of the autorickshaw and 30-year-old Rajesh, a labourer on the site, were injured and rushed to AIIMS trauma
centre. The Metro officials maintained that the cause of toppling of the crane is not known. A committee headed by the chief project manager (South East) has been constituted to investigate the incident. |
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Blind Hansraj student was not murdered: Cops
New Delhi, March 24 Police registered a case of murder as they had found his hands tied behind his back, which made the students and authorities suspect foul play. Scientific opinion is the way in which his hands were tied, the victim himself could have tied such knots around his hands, an official said. Besides, there was no sign of struggle which negated the possibility of involvement of any outsider.The victim’s shirt was gently tucked in his pants, another indication that he did not struggle which should have been the case if somebody else had tied his hands and hanged him, the official added. “We are yet to come across a single evidence of murder so far. All the scientific evidence and observation of crime scene, including the postmortem report does not indicate any struggle or forceful hanging,” said officials supervising the probe. They said there had been similar incidents in the past when victims tied their hands so that they might not rescue themselves in desperation. Police said the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report has clearly mentioned that, “the crime scene suggests no struggle”. Based on evidences , the FSL report has buttressed the suicide theory. “No injury, no assault, no bodily marks” in the postmortem report also suggest that he was not killed, police said. However, cops are now awaiting the viscera report. They would close the murder file only when they have all the reports in hand. |
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Home ministry official goes missing
New Delhi, March 24 K V Singh, who works as under secretary with the relief and rehabilitation section of the ministry, left his house around noon and was scheduled to leave for Kerala this evening along with his family members. They had planned a holiday. Singh is slated to retire on March 31. His family lodged a complaint with the local police station after their efforts to trace him proved futile. |
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Infrastructure will be Games’ legacy: CM
New Delhi, March 24 The Chief Minister said infrastructural development would be the legacy that the Commonwealth Games would leave behind. She said that it was her government’s dream that people talk about Delhi the way they talk about London, Paris and New York . “The government is working to achieve its goal and everybody has to contribute,” she added. On the withdrawal of the subsidy on cooking gas and increase in VAT on CNG and diesel, she said the government could not give subsidy to everybody. |
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12-yr-old shot at in marriage revelry
New Delhi, March 24 “Bunty was hit by a bullet fired by a guest. He is in hospital. We are trying to identify the culprit,” said the police. Driver stabbed A 44-year-old auto-rickshaw driver was stabbed to death by some unidentified passenger near Police Bhavan in central Delhi yesterday night. The victim has been identified as Luv Kus Kumar of Shastri Park. A case has been lodged at Kamla Market police station. “Kumar was driving the auto-rickshaw when he rammed his vehicle into a car. The auto turned turtle and the locals rushed him to the LNJP Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. They also told the police that there was a stab wound on Kumar’s back, suggesting that he was attacked from behind,” said the police, adding that he could be stabbed by some passenger in his auto. Kumar is survived by his parents, wife and two children. |
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Class XII student commits suicide
New Delhi, March 24 The police said Mudit, son of a doctor, was found lying unconscious on the floor at his residence in Kailash Hills with a wire tied around his neck. He was spotted by his mother when she returned home around 7 pm. “He had used a computer cable for hanging and a part of it was tied to the ceiling fan. The mother informed the police, after which, he was rushed to the AIIMS, where he was declared brought dead,” said a police official, adding that Mudit was suffering from psychological problems and was undergoing treatment at the VIMHANS Hospital in Lajpat Nagar. Mudit was under depression due to poor health. The family also stated that Mudit had not performed well in his recent exams and that this could have triggered the incident. His postmortem was conducted at the AIIMS and a case has been registered, the official said. |
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Doctor hangs self
New Delhi, March 24 “The deceased has been identified as Niti Bhushan. He was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his father-in-law’s house by one of his friends, who rushed him to a nearby hospital, where he was declared brought dead. A friend later informed the police and victim’s family about the incident,” said a police officer. Bhushan, a native of Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh, had been married since 2003. No suicide note was recovered and the police is still clueless about the death. Cheat held
The Delhi police yesterday arrested one Hazi Shamshad Saifi (38), a resident of Muzzafarnagar in Uttar Pradesh, for being allegedly involved in several cases of cheating and land grabbing in Loni in UP. He was nabbed near the TB Hospital in Mehrauli where he had come to meet his brother. The UP police had declared a reward of Rs 5,000 on Saifi’s
arrest. “His brother, Dilshad, runs an iron gate manufacturing workshop near Chhattarpur temple in Mehrauli. He used to visit him there regularly,” said HGS Dhaliwal, DCP (south). “Saifi started working as a property dealer. In 2008, he shifted base to Tronica city where he met one Mehboob. The two then started selling plots on installment and cheated many. He was arrested in 2008 by the UP police and was in jail for six months. He was also booked under the Gangster Act. However, he managed to flee and shifted to Delhi,” Dhaliwal said. The UP police has been informed about the arrest, added
Dhaliwal. |
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