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Women wear their sexuality on their sleeve
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Mastermind of Muthoot Finance heist arrested
No admission in handball category
Kalmadi to be taken to AIIMS today
Now, farmers of 31 villages to move court
Small price? 11,500 trees face axe for Metro
DMRC work of high class, says Japanese study
Govt plan to link old-age homes with national healthcare
Metro cities are crime-prone, says Navjot Sidhu
Illicit liquor seized, man held
AIDS patient commits suicide
Man held for stealing cash from Sai temple
Dikshit plants saplings
Chatterati
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Women wear their sexuality on their sleeve
New Delhi, July 31 "My being here is the culmination of years of being harassed in DTC buses, chased by sleazy boys on bikes while travelling in an auto, years of listening to cheap comments on my body and being told by my parents and relatives to dress up in a particular way, talk in a particular manner while my male cousins and friends never got even a warning to respect women and be more polite," said Sherley, a city-based writer at the walk today, holding a placard saying, "My clothes are none of your business." Following in the footsteps of prior Slut Walks in other countries, the Besharmi Morcha in the Capital today had women angered, agitated and in unrest over the thriving mentality that blames crimes against women on the way they dress up. Wearing their sexuality on their sleeve, and confidence on their faces, women marched at Jantar Matar along with men volunteers. Unlike other Slut Walks in Canada or other countries, women chose to don the plain Jane look today as they said that their cause was more important than their clothes. Belinda, who has been in Delhi from Switzerland for the last two weeks, also participated in the walk. She had messages written on her belly and got some attention from the fluttering cameras. "Things are different here than my hometown. Here, we have to be cautious and wear an extra layer of clothing if travelling at night. “What I understand is that such endeavours need women to support women. Mothers have to support daughters; friends have to be united on such issues. Teasers and violators don't pick and choose. Anyone can fall prey. It's everyone's concern. Such efforts should continue," she said. After the movement, Mishika Singh, one of the event organizers, said, "The moment is over, not the movement. The movement is much bigger. We just took an initiative. There has to be repeated reminders to the police and the government that we feel unsafe. This is just unacceptable." City-based lawyer Swati Singh, mother of a four-year-old daughter, said, "I participate today for my daughter, for my sister and friends. “I participate to tell men in the city that my clothes aren't the signal for my being available, loose or weak. My clothes don't characterize me. I participate so that my daughter tomorrow lies in a much safer Delhi." |
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Play tug at the heartstrings
The nukkad natak on the occasion of Besharmi Morcha literally gave goose bumps to everyone present as they stood by and saw an actress enacting a rape scene.
Her shrill, powerful
yet painful screams caught attention of everyone.
Taking stage in the middle of the road,
he actors successfully managed to involve the audience at a deeper level as they asked that how
can the city people stand by and look when women suffer like this. Onlookers stopped and the police personnel on duty paid heed as the actors asked the members of the audience if they felt their daughters and sisters were safe in the city. |
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Mastermind of Muthoot Finance heist arrested
New Delhi, July 31 The police seized one .32 bore pistol with three live cartridges, three mobile phones used in the crime, gold ornaments worth Rs 12 lakh and three receipts by which accused mortgaged the gold in Muthoot Finance in Meerut from his possession, the police said. The Muthoot robbery case in Pandav Nagar in east Delhi was reported in May this year in which 9 kg of gold was robbed. And the murder case was reported in Mansarovar Park on Januray 31 this year in which around Rs 10 lakh was looted. The special cell of the police received information yesterday that Sat Pal was admitted to Shanti Nursing Home at Kanker Khera road in Meerut in UP. A joint team of the special cell and the Mansarovar Park police station conducted a raid in the nursing home and arrested the accused. During interrogation, he said he was residing in a rented accommodation in Sainik Vihar in Meerut. He said on May 10, he and his accomplices had entered the premises of the finance company with weapons. The case was registered at the Mandawali police station and later it was transferred to the special cell. Three of his accomplices, Rahul, Mahender and Satish were arrested on May 22 and about 70 gm gold was recovered from their possession. Thereafter, Rajishore, alias Kaptan, and Kamal were arrested and about 1.6 kg gold was recovered. Their interrogation revealed that Sat pal was the leader of the gang in the Muthoot robbery case. Besides, Rohtash and Vineet were also wanted in the case. At the time of the incident, Sat pal who was wearing turban posing himself as a Sikh, kept 2 kg gold out of 9 kg. In the murder case of a recovery agent, Vinod, in Mansarovar Park, they had robbed and killed Vinod, who was carrying Rs 10 lakh at the time of the incident. They had intercepted him near Ram Nagar near his factory and overpowered him. They shot him dead and looted the amount. |
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No admission in handball category
New Delhi, July 31 These students had appeared for the trials and were among the top performers. They even claimed that the college had issued them admission slips as well, but on the last day, they were denied admission. The students, along with some student leaders in the university, today submitted an application to the dean of students' welfare, vice-chancellor and principal of the college. NUSI leader Deepika Deshwal said, "These students have been denied admission at the last minute. If the sport didn't feature on the college's list, it should have been made clear at the beginning. Earlier selecting and giving them admission slips and then denying them admission at the last minute has left them with no options. We met the dean of students' welfare today. He assured us of appropriate action as soon as possible. The university is likely to intervene in the matter." Pranjul Vatsa, one of the affected students, said, "On June 23, the director of physical education told us that handball was on the list. We were asked to check the notice board on June 28 for trial dates. We found out that the trails were on July 8. We appeared for the trials at the nearby Motibagh College ground as there was some problem at Motilal, but in the end we were told by the director to come back on July 11 and take admission as we had qualified. I was on the second number on the list on July 8." "However to our surprise, when we retuned to take admission on July 11, we were denied admission and our names were also nowhere on the list. We were told that the college committee has decided to remove handball from the sports lists this year. We were asked to come back next year." "What we couldn't understand was that if there was a change of polices, why we were not contacted. We filled forms; they had our contact numbers as well. Our trails were taken, we were told we were selected and then denied admission at the last minute. What are we supposed to do now," he added. Even after repeated attempts, the director of physical education at
Motilal Nehru College remained unavailable for the comment. |
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Kalmadi to be taken to AIIMS today
New Delhi, July 31 The tests would be done under the supervision of a three-member team of doctors- senior neurologist Dr M V Padma, senior cardiologist Dr Rakesh Yadav and additional medical superintendent Dr Aarti Vij-constituted on July 28 after doctors suggested a detailed assessment of his medical records. "On August 1 at 9 am, he is supposed to be taken to the hospital for the medical check-up and he will be admitted for a short duration," said the deputy inspector general of Tihar Prisons R N Sharma. Earlier, Kalmadi, was first taken to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital on July 12 after he complained of nausea and dizziness and from where he was referred to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital to undergo an MRI test of the brain on July 19. Meanwhile, the MRI tests are said to have revealed that he could be suffering from dementia-a medical condition which impacts the cognitive functions of the person. The medical report, submitted to AIIMS, puts it as, "Diffused cerebral atrophy with old ischemic changes in brain parenchyma with calcified granuloma in caudothalamic groove on left side (of his brain)." Amidst all this, Kalmadi said that his brain is working fine and it is only the heart for which he has undergone an operation in the past. |
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Now, farmers of 31 villages to move court
Greater Noida, July 31 They were from Murshidpur, Rampur, Accheija, Bhatta, Parsaul, Navada, Mehmoodpur, Salarpur and other villages. Richhpal Arya and Ajay Pal Sharma of the Bhartiya Kisan Union, Nawab Singh Nagar of the BJP, Bijender Bhatti of the Samajwadi Party and Virendra Dhada and Dhirenra Singh of the Congress took part in the panchayat. "The panchayat has decided that farmers should move the court. No rehabilitation benefits were given to the farmers. The land was acquired at a very cheap rate of Rs 800 per square meter and later sold to builders at Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 per square meter," said Ajay Pal Sharma. "We are not protesting against the construction of Yamuna Expressway. Our protest is against other allotments, including Formula 1, Jaypee Sports city, Supertech, Panchsheel and nine other projects of private builders," said Sharma. At Patwari, Greater Noida CEO Rama Raman held talks to work out some solution to resolve the Noida Extension tangle. He agreed to their demands on abadi land and 5 per cent developed land. He refused to accept the main demand on the hike in land compensation, saying it was not in his powers. At Noida, farmers assembled at Nithari and decided to launch an agitation to press for their demands. They claimed that 11 villages whose land was acquired from 1976 to 1997 have demanded 5 per cent developed land. |
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Small price? 11,500 trees face axe for Metro
New Delhi, July 31 However, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) officials are of the opinion that the cutting of trees will not be a great loss to the environment as the corporation will do the compensatory afforestation. "The construction for the third phase of Metro is on and everything is in place. Though we have estimated the loss of around 11,500 trees, we will plant more plants than we will destroy in the Capital," a DMRC official told IANS. "With the completion of this phase, a large number of people who till now did not have the access will start commuting through the Metro. The felling of trees is a small price for the convenience of lakhs of people," added the official. Officials say the corporation will make sure that on cutting each tree, at least 10 trees are planted. On behalf of the DMRC, the forest department will plant the trees. However, environmentalist Prabhakar Rao says though the construction of the third phase is in the public interest, the environmental loss cannot be denied. "As far as the DMRC is concerned, they have been good in their afforestation drives. However, the loss cannot be denied. Though the forest department will plant tress, it will take those saplings at least 10 years to become complete trees," said Rao of NGO Kalpavriksh. When IANS contacted the forest department, a senior official said: "We are helpless as we cannot stop the construction of Metro since it is the lifeline of lakhs of Delhiites. But we will make sure that only minimum damage is done." According to him, the DMRC will have to pay a compensatory amount for cutting the trees. "We'll have to identify the areas where we can do plantation if trees are cut for the construction. For that, we'll have to seek land from the revenue department," said the official. Janata Dal-United MP Jainarain Prasad Nishad has written a letter to Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit regarding the issue. "I am very concerned about this issue as the loss of 50 to 100-year-old 11,000 trees cannot be compensated. I have written to Dikshit to take necessary steps to stop the cutting of huge number of trees," Prasad said. The third phase of Delhi Metro will see three existing routes extended -- the Badarpur-Central Secretariat line will go up to Kashmere Gate, the HUDA City Centre-Jahangirpuri line to Badli and the Dwarka-Noida line to Najafgarh. The construction work is expected to get over by early 2015 and cost over Rs 30,000 crore. The Delhi Metro runs around 2,000 train trips and ferries 1.6 million passengers every day. After the third phase, the
ridership will to three million. — IANS |
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DMRC work of high class, says Japanese study
New Delhi, July 31 The study rated the Delhi Metro's project execution effort at three, which is the highest possible grade indicating that the performance of the DMRC was excellent. The JICA has employed the Foundation for Advanced Studies on International Development (FASID), a Japan-based research and training organisation, for the evaluation of the Delhi Metro's Phase I project. The FASID had submitted an interim report this month. For all future funding sanctions, the JICA takes into account; the performance of the JICA assisted or funded projects based on such evaluations. According to the report submitted by the FASID, the phase I project was found to be consistent with India's development policies, development needs and the Japanese aid policy. The study found that the Delhi Metro phase I project was of a great relevance as it provided infrastructure in the transportation sector and contributed in the growth of the nation, besides other socio-economic benefits. The output of the phase I project and the efficiency in execution of the project were also appreciated by the JICA study. The project was rated three on sustainability. The JICA study specified that the project had excellent training systems that trained staff efficiently and enabled it to incorporate experiences of the deployed staff into the training curriculum from time to time. The study further said the system was always improving or equipping itself with better techniques, such as automatic train operations system and shortening headways by modifying operations. The JICA also appreciated the fact that the project was completed within the stipulated time frame. Phase 1 was sanctioned in September 1996 with a time line of completion in 10 years and the construction started on the October 1, 1998. The project was completed in two years and seven months before the stipulated time. The completion of the project within the budgetary limits received accolades from the Japanese funding agency. About 60 per cent of the project cost was financed by the Government of Japan through a soft loan from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, now called JICA. |
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Govt plan to link old-age homes with national healthcare
New Delhi, July 31 While the plan would be put into action in the 12th Five Year Plan, the two proposed national institute of ageing - one in Delhi at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and the other in Chennai - are already hit by financial roadblocks. "The government is mulling for convergence between the union health ministry and the social welfare ministry for improving geriatric services. In the country there are 1,700 NGOs which are running old-age homes and talks are afoot to reach out to the target population residing in these homes," sources from the health ministry told The Tribune. But, the exact modalities are still to be worked out at a time when the government is also considering of the expansion of the geriatric services from 100
districts to the rest of the country in a phased manner. Since the planning commission approved the pilot geriatric programme on October 11 last year, 30 districts were covered in the first phase and funds for the remaining 70 districts targeted in the 11th Five Year Plan have also been released, as sources confirmed. However, the eight regional geriatric centres proposed at eight medical institutions for providing affordable tertiary level healthcare to the elderly population and for research activities, apart from the two institutes of ageing would be only taken up in the 12th Five Year Plan. Though the proposal for the same has been approved in principle by the commission, it would be premature to say much at this stage, sources added. Earlier, as declared by the health minister, the geriatric centres and the two institutes of ageing were supposed to be a part of the ongoing Five Year Plan, but monetary constraints seem to be have marred its prospects this year.' Further, at the AIIMS though the geriatric OPD has been operational since last year, the work of towards having a full-fledged geriatric department shows no progress. "Things are in a fluid state and administrative delays are a big problem," said sources from the institute. |
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Metro cities are crime-prone, says Navjot Sidhu
New Delhi, July 31 This was stated by MP Navjot Singh Sidhu at a Teej Mela organised by Sampurna, an NGO in Rohini, today. He said the civil society and functionaries of criminal justice system should work in a close association to control the crime. Family should come forward and inculcate the values in children. The mela was dedicated to fight against crime. Drawing competition and public meetings were organised on this occasion. The mela started at 11in the morning. More than 35 stalls were installed to represent the self-help groups of women and leading NGOs of Delhi. The women entrepreneurs were very happy and satisfied to receive the queries from a large number of people attending the mela. Chief vigilance officer in NDMC Dinesh Bhatt inaugurated the drawing competition which was participated by more than 700 youths. People were surprised to see the way youth drew their perceptions through their paintings. Vijender Gupta, president of the Delhi pradesh BJP unit, distributed the prizes to the winners of the competition. He appreciated the efforts of Sampurna to encourage youth to give solution to the problem of crime. Amond Kanth, a retired IPS officer, who has cherished a long career in controlling the crime, mentioned that the crime could only be reduced through the police and public corporation. The both should respect and corporate each other. Justices JP Singh said there were so many lacunae in criminal law procedure of which the criminals take advantages. Justices Singh suggested that the changes in criminal laws, investigation procedure, police powers and their working conditions, due professional training to the prosecutors, exemplary punishment to the criminals and strict code of conduct for the judiciary are the demand of time. |
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Illicit liquor seized, man held
New Delhi, July 31 The police received information yesterday that Babu Ram would come to Delhi from Gurgaon with the liquor in the Tata Indica car. A trap was laid at Nelson Mandela Marg near Munirka Village and he was arrested. The police said that when the driver was asked to stop the car, he tried to run away but was overpowered. He was identified as Babu Ram, resident of Faridabad. On search of the car, 36 cartons of illicit liquor were recovered. A case under the Delhi Excise Act has been registered. During interrogation, the accused disclosed that he works for Umesh who along with other accomplices is active in Delhi, especially in South Delhi and supplies the illicit liquor to various bootleggers as well as to the government wine shops where desi liquor is sold. He further disclosed that while he was working as driver in Badarpur, he came in contact with Umesh who lured him into joining his gang to, the police said. |
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AIDS patient commits suicide
New Delhi, July 31 He was admitted to the hospital a week ago. His wife said: “Deep
had been in depression since he was declared an AIDS patient. This morning he went to the seventh floor and jumped off from there.” The police has not found any suicide
note. — IANS |
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Man held for stealing cash from Sai temple
New Delhi, July 31 Two of his accomplices, Vikas and Dinesh, managed to escape when the temple staff members noticed them stealing the donation amount, the police said. Around 12.15 pm on Friday while the afternoon prayer was going on, one of the temple's workers, Nawal, noticed three boys standing near the safe. Two of them had covered the safe while the third was stealing the cash. Naval immediately informed his colleague Rajpal and both of them moved towards the safe. Having seen the alert staff, two of the accused managed to escape, but Mukesh was caught. A sum of Rs 700 was recovered from his possession. He was handed over to the local police. During interrogation, the accused said they had stolen cash from the safe three times in the past and every time they managed to steal around Rs 10,000. |
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Dikshit plants saplings
New Delhi, July 31 Dikshit, along with a group of schoolchildren planted around 250 saplings in a park in the Kali Bari area in
New Delhi. "We need to take affectionate care of the saplings," she said. As several government agencies have been involved in the plantation drive, Dikshit said suitable award would be given to best performing agency. Officials said schools and hospitals had also been instructed to plant saplings around their boundaries. |
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Chatterati
The 34-year-old Hina Rabbani Khar made a fashion statement as soon as she alighted from the plane. Fashionable, expensive, perfect to the point she was dressed in blue colour of the season with Jackie Kennedy-type oversized sunglasses, oversized Hermes Birkin bag costing Rs 7 lakh and to lend the glamour, she added the tasteful pearl jewellery. Young, smiling yet a little conscious dressed in straight pants and not the traditional salwar with a long kurta. Obviously, a lover of international brands. Everything was in place. But as someone commented, "A nation which is going through such troubled times politically and economically should their representative be attired so expensively? Or should they be dressed like our lady politicians Sonia Gandhi or our young lady MPs, tastefully yet simple and affordable
to all." Hina may not have made her first right move politically as she had met with the separatists before she met with the Indian Foreign Minister. What she delivers is yet to be seen but what we saw was a pleasant figure whose every move the world would be watching. This is a fresh new face of today's generation, belonging to an elite family of Pakistan with traces of political blood. A business woman who is comfortable in jeans as in a kurta and is as confident in the polo ground as is head of the foreign ministry. Is this the new generation in Pakistan? Educated, exposed to the western world and a new mindset. Zardari's son Bilawal Zardari Bhutto is set to run for elections next time. Is this his new team in the making? Hina visited the Nizamuddin Dargah and then the Ajmer Dargah. She met old family friends at the Dargah as she had no time to go to their house. She would have loved to go shopping but as she said 'next time'. Our External Affairs Minister will surely look forward to that. The world
of haute couture
Must say that our desi designers have learnt the skills of top class embroidery. The touch of modern and tradition really made this fashion show a success. And our Indian models walked the ramp with confidence and such elegance. The last and the best show as usual was of the designer with the dramatic touch and his each garment was an objet d'art. Rohit Bal's collection was called 'Shanti'. There were volumes of fabric upon fabric in its purest form. The fragrance of 300 kgs of jasmine flowers which the designer used right from the branches which were set around the ramp and also around the seats of the spectators. It was an amazing sheet of white flowers. An old friend, the dapper Arjun Rampal was the show-stopper at Rohit Bal's show. For the first time this show gave us a feeling that couture was alive in India. It may be a French word but as Indians love fine things, customizing still exists at all the economic levels. It has been India's longstanding tradition. JJ Valaya's workmanship is something one cannot find fault with. The cultured saris with experimental twists of Gaurav Gupta and with his technical skills to draping and pleating of his materials. One is proud of all these talented designers. The glamorous Sonam Kapoor who really knows 'fashion' opened the show for Bollywood's Manish Malhotra and outshone all other Bollywood stars who walked the ramp for their designers. |
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We are getting used to the visiting attractive first ladies Michelle Obama, Sarah Brown and then the Carla Bruni of France who all came looking chic and are sharp too. Michelle was a big hit here. More than their husbands, they were the ones who stole the limelight and got great reviews. But last week, it was the Pakistan's first-ever woman Foreign Minister who stole the limelight in Delhi.
The fashion week known as "Delhi Couture Week" was much more successful this year. Of course, there were some catfights and some blame game of copycats. Otherwise it was fine. Delhiites witnessed a whole lot of Mumbai celebrities walking on the ramp and in the front rows. It seems to be some kind of a new motive to add the touch of 'has been' celebrities just for the extra media attention. The designer whose show they attend seems special. Wonder why?