New Delhi, June 6
A large number of the BJP activists today participated in 'satyagraha' started by the saffron party to protest the police action against Baba Ramdev and those who joined the movement launched by him against the government to bring back the black money to the country deposited in foreign banks.

The BJP said that yesterday's situation at Ramlila Grounds was like undeclared emergency in which fundamental rights of citizens were crushed. Ramdev's movement was very democratic and the police action against him and his followers was unconstitutional and in barbaric manner.

The BJP activists tied black strips observing black day and staged a satyagraha for 24 hours at Rajghat. Senior BJP leaders LK Advani, party national president Nitin Gadkari, Leader of the Oppositon in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, Leader of the Oppositon in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitely, party former national president Raj Nath Singh, Ananth Kumar, Vijay Goel, Vijender Gupta, Subhasha Chopra and other party leaders sat for satyagraha at Rajghat for the whole night since yesterday evening. They were singing nationalistic songs and taking vow to dislodge the Congress government.

A delegation under the leadership LK Advani, Gadkari, Jaitly and Sushma Swaraj met the President demanding for special session of Parliament for discussing the issue of Ramdev, inquiry into the police action against Ramdev and his followers and re-establishing the Constitutional rights of the people.

Addressing the satyagraha at Rajghat, Gadkari said the BJP considered that protecting the Constitution, the country, saints and protecting the human rights was party's sacred duty. Today's satyagraha was the first phase in a symbolic manner. The BJP would fight against the atrocities of the police, corruption of the Congress and on the issue of black money from Parliament Streets.

India is not the ancestral property of the Congress that any government could act in a barbarous manner on the innocent satyagrahis, he said.

New Delhi, June 6
In a letter to Delhi police commissioner B K Gupta, senior advocate and Member of Lokpal Committee Shanti Bhushan today said that they would go ahead with their scheduled protest at Jantar Mantar on June 8 despite the Delhi police's imposition of Section 144 of CrPC (prohibitory orders against assembly of five or more persons) at the site in New Delhi district.

Anna Hazare announced a one-day protest at Jantar Mantar yesterday against the assault on the people at Ramlila Maidan on the night of June 4-5.

"The imposition of Section 144 in the absence of any emergent situation which imminently threatens breach of peace is a clear violation of citizen's right under Article-19 and 19 (1) (right to assemble peacefully and without arms) of Indian Constitution," said Bhushan in his letter.

The Delhi police is yet to decide its response to the senior advocate's letter.

According to Rajan Bhagat, Delhi police spokesperson, the letter has just been received and the course of action open with the police will be decided tomorrow.

"Nothing has been decided on it yet. We got the letter today only," said Bhagat.

New Delhi, June 6
The huge tents at Ramlila Maidan pulled down by the action taken by the Delhi police are now being removed up by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi today.

The MCD said that the process of cleaning the ground may take long as it was the responsibility of the organisers that had booked it for 20 days.

The ground was booked by Swabhiman Trust for organizing the Ramdev's 'yoga shivir'.

The MCD officials said that the workers have started dismantling the tents amidst tight security arrangements.

"It is entirely up to the Swabhiman Trust that had booked the ground for 20 days to organise yoga shivir. Now their organisers have to do the job," said Subhash Arya, leader of the House in MCD.

The belongings of the protesters were still strewn over the ground while the police officials from the local Kamla Market police station said the Arya Samaj Orphanage took charge of them.

"All the abandoned belongings of the people who were present on the ground on June 4 have been deposited at the Arya Samaj Orphanage. It is responsible for the belongings," said an official from the police station.

The orphanage, located at Barakhamba Road in central Delhi, is managed by Ramdev's Patanjali Trust.

"Around 40 to 50 people have claimed their property till now. The local police station refused to keep it with themselves," said Sandeep Mathur, manager of the Arya Samaj Orphanage.

"Even now luggage, shoes, chappals and clothes are lying unclaimed here," he added.

New Delhi, June 6
Following the intense drama during Ramdev's forceful eviction from the Capital's Ramlila Grounds, 71 supporters of the yoga guru reported to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital (LNJP) with minor-to-serious injuries on the intervening night of the weekend and among them two patients are admitted to ICUs here.

While one Raj Bala (50 years) from Gurgaon remains in a critical condition in Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital (GBP) where she was shifted yesterday evening from LNJP, the other patient Sunil (30 years) who had sustained head injuries is still serious.

The GBP's medical superintendent, Dr Shashi, said, "Raj Bala's condition is critical. She had suffered a spinal injury and was referred to us last evening. She is currently in the ICU and is on ventilator."

Raj's injury could be due to fall from height.

"Cervical region is one of the sensitive areas and is the epicentre. If it is affected, it could result in a lifelong disability. She was referred to GB Pant as she required specialised neurological intervention. Sunil (30 years) is still admitted to the ICU and his recovery has been satisfactory after he was operated upon for a head injury," said the chief medical officer-on-duty at the LNJP's casualty ward.

On Saturday night, around 71 patients were taken to LNJP and among them, 34 were admitted to the disaster ward and 30, with various degrees of injuries, were discharged yesterday after first aid and preliminary treatment. Besides, two left against medical advice (LAMA) and Raj Bala was transferred to GB Pant, added the CMO. 

Neeraj Kumar, a 1976 IPS batch took over director general of Tihar Jail in November last year and in his short tenure of over six months is already making an impact on the lives of the inmates at the country’s highly secured prison. Among his several achievements, Kumar is very proud of the fact that for the first time he could convince the corporate companies to come for the campus placement inside the jail, resulting in 43 inmates being recruited in February and March. With several 2G Spectrum allocation scam accused lodged in Tihar these days, Kumar dispels several myths about life at Tihar and rubbishes report that anyone is getting a preferential treatment.

Q:From the special commissioner of police in Delhi to director general in Tihar Jail, I am sure the two jobs are very varied and demands totally different attitude and aptitude.

NK: The current responsibility is totally different from what I have been doing. That was police work requiring prevention of crime, investigation, detection and finally prosecution before court. One important competent of my responsibility before I joined Tihar Jail was securing the Commonwealth Games. However, here, it's more like a social work. A highly creative work I would say which involves not only day-to-day administration of jails, but also working towards making inmates literate, teaching them skills and then look into their rehabilitation so as to give them another chance.

Q: With close to 20 VIP accused in 2G Spectrum scam and the Commonwealth Games fund misappropriation, Tihar Jail is receiving attention it never had. What do you have to say about some media reports that say that some of these so called VIPs are receiving VIP treatment?

NK: There is no truth in these reports. If at all any thing extra has been provided to any of the inmates, it is on court's orders.

Q: What is your rate of interaction with the inmates?

NK: Very frequent, almost every day. I make my rounds in various jails, meet and talk with the inmates, listen to their problems, demands or anything they have to say.

Q: How many times have you met likes of A Raja, Kalmadi or Kanimozhi?

NK: I met A Raja only once about three months ago and that too when he expressed the desire to meet me. I have met him then, only once. I have not met or seen Kalmadi or Kanimozhi so far.

Q: So, what did A Raja wanted to meet you about?

NK: He requested if some Tamil newspapers could be made available to him and we provided him the same. But that was just once.

Q: Any changes you have noticed in him when he came here and now?

NK: I told you I just met him once and even if do meet him again you don't expect me to ask him, Rajaji aap settle ho gaye ho. Do you?

Q: Being in your position you can make life of any inmate very comfortable in Tihar. Do you get calls from outside requesting certain favours to their near and dear ones?

NK: Yes, Yes. All the time. If the demand is reasonable and within the law, I might consider it, but otherwise I politely excuse myself.

Q: Has some one from DMK called you?

NK: No.

Q: I am sure Karunanidhi himself must have called?

NK: (laughs) No, never.

Q: Why is Kanimozhi not kept in a cell like other inmates but in a warden's room with a cooler?

NK: Actually it is not a warden's room or something but just an old room which was being used by an NGO earlier and since then it has been lying vacant. I decided upon using it for Kanimozhi keeping in view her security concerns. We have to see that vulnerable inmates are kept segregated and away from other hardened criminals. Since, this room was on one side of the jail and quite suitable in keeping Kanimozhi away from hardcore criminals, we put her in it. There is no cooler or anything else in that room.

Q: Who decides which jail and which cell an inmate will occupy?

NK: That is my prerogative and lodging I do personally. The segregation and security are the two foremost criteria. The aim is to keep the white-collar criminals away from the hardcore murderers and robbers. Suppose they live together, one can easily blackmail them into compelling their family to provide money to their man outside the jail, etc. So, I have to keep this factor in mind.

Q: Apart from A Raja, who else have you met among these VIPs?

NK: None as far as I remember. I decided upon Kanimozhi's lodging but I have not seen her ever. Neither I met or seen Suresh Kalmadi or for that matter even Manu Sharma or Vikas Yadav.

Q: Do you deliberately ignore this lot?

NK: It is nothing like this. However, if they want to see me, its different thing but I do not go out to make interaction with them. It's uncomfortable and embarrassing for them as well as myself. You don't know what to address them and what to say. For example, RK Sharma is my batch mate. Now it's really uncomfortable for me and him as well to meet in such circumstances.

Q: So, you have not met RK Sharma also?

NK: I met him just once during my rounds in jail No. 1. It was just hi and hello.

Q: What is this thing about jail No.1, is it referred to as a VIP jail. Is it more comfortable from other jails?

NK: There is no such thing as a VIP jail in the book. Jail manual does not refer to any such things. All are equal in the eyes of law and punished equally. Similarly, all the jails here are same and all are equally comfortable or uncomfortable. You cannot say it's a VIP jail because A Raja or RK Sharma is here. What about Kalmadi? He is in jail No. 4. Vikas Yadav and Manu Sharma are in jail No.2. Reliance MD Gautam Doshi is in jail No. 3. Are they less VIPs? Besides, there are hundreds of unknown hardcore criminals residing in jail No. 1.

Q: Among the VIP's here, who according to you is the best-behaved?

NK: (Thinks) I am told Kanimozhi is very well behaved. She follows all the rules and does not boss around.

Q: How about Shahid Balwa and company?

NK: He keeps coming up with most preposterous demands. After cooler and ipad, he has now filed an appeal in the court that even the undertrails like him should be allowed to go out on parole (parole is given only to convicts).

New Delhi, June 6
Hundreds of posts of officials are lying vacant in the Delhi government departments due to lack of sufficient number of staff, said principal secretary (Services) Kailash Chandra.

He said total posts sanctioned for Delhi Andaman Nicobar Islands Civil Services (DANICS) officers were 309 while only 217 posts were filled. In statutory bodies 311 DANICS officers were posted. The union government appointed the IAS and the DANICS officers.

As far as grade I, II and other officers are concerned, they are selected by the Delhi Subordinate Selection Board (DSSB). There are 1,434 posts are sanctioned for grade-I. Out of these, 400 posts are vacant.

The government has planned to fill these posts by promoting grade II officers, but so far the documents of only 68 officers are submitted to the department concerned. According to the rule, only 214 officers can be promoted, he said.

The government has sanctioned 2,227 posts for grade II but only 1,775 are filled up. Posts of LDC and UDC are also vacant.

When asked the process of appointment of grade I, II, LDC and UDC, he said the DSSB did this. Last recruitment of these officers was done in 2008. Since then no new appointment had been made.

He said the services department had asked the DSSB many times for more officers, but so far no new appointment had been made even as reminders had been given to the DSSB.

When asked about the cases registered against the officers, the principal secretary hesitated to name the number of such officers and departments saying that union ministry of home affairs took action against DANICS and IAS officers.

He said each department had a committee to inquire into the cases of women harassment and later these cases were transferred to the vigilance department of the city government.

New Delhi, June 6
A new team of achievers in public service, industry and the field of arts has been appointed to the St. Stephen's College alumni executive by principal Rev Valson Thampu. The team will strengthen the legendary "Stephanian network" for the benefit of the alma mater and work according to the Master Plan and Vision 2050 of the college.

At a meeting held late last night, former governor and police commissioner Ved Marwah agreed to be the president of the alumni executive association, chief election commissioner S.Y. Quraishi consented to be the vice-president, Perfect Relations co-founder Bobby Kewalramani was appointed the secretary, senior civil servant Vijay Chhibber agreed to be the treasurer and India Strategy Group-Hammurabi and Solomon Consulting LLP CEO Rohit Bansal was made the media advisor.

The revamped national executive now has Delhi Lokayukta Manmohan Sarin, Delhi High Court Judge Sanjay Kishen Kaul, cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar, owner and editor of Pioneer Chandan Mitra, founder of Naukri.com Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor Corporation CEO Amitabh Kant, NDTV group editor (English) Barkha Dutt, journalists BG Verghese and Novy Kapadia, Shell India's Dipak Mukarji, home ministry bureaucrat Dharmendra Sharma, lawyer Diljeet Titus, theatre personality Suneet Tandon, HPCL's Deepak Hota, MCD's Harminder Singh, Texemart's S.D. Mudgil and author Mukul Kesawan.

President Marwah said the new executive's main mission would be to galvanise alumni, understand developmental efforts underway and fund and oversee the execution of the Master Plan and Vision 2050 recently approved by the governing body.

"The alumni have reviewed the ground-level improvement works underway in the science block, junior combination room, library and the Internet resource centre," Marwah said.

New Delhi, June 6
The CBI has arrested seven persons, including the kingpin doctor who allegedly manipulated All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) post-graduate examination held on May 8 and in all India Pre-Veterinary test held on May 5.

According to information, the police arrested Mahipal Singh and his accomplices today who were sent to the CBI custody by the court.

During investigation, the CBI found that a private firm was awarded contract by the Veterinary Council of India for result processing, including manufacturing and scanning of OMR sheets of the examination. "Singh, in connivance with the candidates, printed duplicate OMR sheets bearing the same bar codes and replaced the original OMR sheets by duplicate OMR sheets in the Veterinary Council of India office in order to get favourable result," said the CBI. He used to charge hefty amount from the candidates. He was a radiologist and had done post graduation in medical science from AIIMS.