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66-yr-old man dies in scuffle with constable
MCD polls: HC rejects pleas against quota
MCD schools have computers, but no teachers
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Ticket seekers rush to party offices after court order
Bhatta fresh, Jewar turnout 62%
60 per cent polling in Gzb
JNU polls: Sentiment runs against Lyngdoh stand
Leaping with joy: 4 birthdays at once
Science lessons now on mobile phones
Free health check-up for Tihar inmates
Delhi Tourism bags national award
New Delhi Railway Station is best
Falak responding: Doc
Radio station boss held for molesting colleague
BSP MLAs son threatens Russian woman at gunpoint
Withdrawal of prosecution against Dikshit opposed
2 held for drug trafficking
Warm day in Delhi
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66-yr-old man dies in scuffle with constable
New Delhi, February 29 According to the police, Mohit Arora and his father Anil Kumar Arora was driving a car at Dhaula Kuan. They were stopped at a pre-paid booth. Mohit asked for water from a constable, Vikram Singh, who was on duty at the booth. Vikram apparently told him to get the water from the Delhi Cantt police station. Mohit shouted at the constable and a scuffle started between the two. Anil intervened to stop the fight, but was allegedly pushed aside by the constable. Anil fell unconscious and was rushed to Safdarjung Hospital, where he was declared 'brought dead'. A senior police officer said a case under Indian Penal Code Section 304 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) had been registered against the constable at the Delhi Cantt police station. The crime branch of the Delhi police will be investigating the matter. The constable has been suspended, according to the official. Sources said the crime branch was waiting for the postmortem report, which will ascertain the exact cause of Anil's death. Doctors on preliminary examination have not indicated any external injuries on the body of the deceased. CCTV footage of the police station and eyewitness accounts will be used in the case. |
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MCD polls: HC rejects pleas against quota
New Delhi, February 29 A bench of justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Rajiv Shakdher dismissed the pleas, by various MCD councillors, saying that it finds "nothing wrong" in the mode and manner of reservation of MCD seats for woman and SC candidates by the poll panel. "We find nothing wrong with the action of the SEC (State Election Commission) qua the mode and manner of reservation of seats for the SC and the women and, thus, dismiss the writ petitions leaving the parties to bear their own costs," the bench said. The court, in its 55-page judgement, did not find fault with the delegation of power either by the Delhi government to the SEC to earmark wards and reserve them for the SC and woman candidates. "We are of the unequivocal view that no fault can be found with the delegation of power under Section 490B of the said Act (Delhi Municipal Corporation Act) by the notification dated January 24, 2012 and the challenge to the same is misplaced. "In our opinion, the fact that the central and the state government in exercise of the powers conferred under the DMC Act have chosen to delegate this function, by issuance of notification under Section 490A and 490B of the DMC Act respectively, does not in any manner, in our opinion, erode the independent constitutional status enjoyed by the SEC under the Constitution," said Justice Kaul, writing the judgement. The court dismissed as many as twelve petitions against the SEC notification of January 27, by which a list of reserved seats in all three corporations of Delhi on the basis of 2001 Census was prepared.
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MCD schools have computers, but no teachers
New Delhi, February 29 The students in municipal schools have not been able to get primary education in computers because the project is stuck at the tendering stages. Staff at different schools admit that a majority of the computers are either not in a working condition or the there are no teachers for the subject. "The project is stuck in procedural delays. We have written to the senior authorities several times, but nothing has been done so far. Children are being deprived of the knowledge because of administrative delays. Moreover, the computers are lying unused in schools and most of them can't be re-used," said the principal of a school on the condition of anonymity. MCD teachers say that the computer labs in the schools are not being used as there are no teachers to take classes. "Last session, we didn't have any computer classes for children as there were no teachers. We have six computers in the school, but none are in use," said another school principal in east Delhi. The MCD awarded the contract to supply computers to 1,381 schools to two private firms in 2005. These firms were also supposed to provide teachers for imparting computer education. The civic agency had paid Rs 52 crore for five years to these firms. But last year, their contract got over. Though the two firms got the contract again, the tenders were not finalised. According to sources, there was a disagreement between the corporation and the firms over the duration of the contract. Earlier, it was given for five years, but later, the MCD decided to curtail it to one year only. The decision didn't go down well with the companies, who withdrew their tenders. Since last year, no decision has been taken on the issue. |
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Ticket seekers rush to party offices after court order
New Delhi, February 29 The ticket seekers had brought along curriculum vites (CVs) and senior leaders, who could be of any help. Having seen the rush, state BJP general secretary Vijay Sharma told the ticket seekers to go back, saying that the party would select 15-20 party workers from each district and then the election committee would take the final decision. A meeting of the working committee would be held tomorrow to decide the strategy to contest the election and distribute the tickets, he said. However, people were still seen submitting CVs and so far more, 100 ticket seekers have already submitted their documents. Women ticket seekers were seen upset as they doubted that the tickets would be given purely on the basis of performances. For the seats reserved for women, senior leaders are trying to get tickets for their wives or daughters. On the condition of anonymity, a ticket seeker from the Minto Road constituency said she had been in party politics for the past 20 years, but had never been given a chance to contest elections. Now, she is trying for a ticket for the ward reserved for woman candidates. "But ticket is not given on the basis of experience, it is given on the basis of your networking with senior leaders," she alleged. Another woman, Nilu Gihara, said she had been the in-charge of the women cell of the party in Chandni Chowk from where the state BJP president had contested the parliamentary election. Though the national president of the party, Nitin Gadkari, has said that ticket will be given to strong candidates, local senior leaders like Vijay Kumar Malhotra, Vijay Goel, Jagdish Mukhi, Harshvardhan etc would play important roles in ticket distribution. |
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Bhatta fresh, Jewar turnout 62%
Noida, February 29 Voters from twin villages of Bhatta and Parsaul did not forget the brutal police crackdown in May last year over land acquisition as they trooped in to the polling booths with a vengeance. The Jewar constituency, thus, had a massive turnout of 62 per cent Jewar had in a way symbolized the crucial Karam Bhumi, both for the BSP and the Congress. Many villagers said they were voting for a better future while for others, the scars are yet to heal. Whereas incumbent chief minister Mayawati hopes to repeat her 2007 performance here, the Congress is banking on Rahul Gandhi's forays into Bhatta and Parsaul and the alliance with the Rashtriya Lok Dal to reap dividends in the Jat-dominated belt. Though villagers are disillusioned with the anti-farmer polices of the BSP, it remains to be seen if this translates into votes for rival candidates. Locals say the lack of development has further eaten into the support base of the BSP here. In Bhatta, Parsaul and the neighbouring Aacchepur and Chandpur, the Rahul magic seems to have worked. If it has worked wonders is yet to be seen. "He came to us when the whole area was in flames. And he doused the fires. He may have used it for political mileage, but if he had not intervened, village after village would have been wiped out and no one would have batted an eyelid", said a villager." "The state government had turned brokers for private developers and grabbed our land. We cannot let that happen again," said another. Dalits and Jatavs, however, have backed the Bahaujan Samaj Party. Thakurs back the Congress, but a sizeable number of villages pledged alliance with the Samajwadi Party. "We have voted for the BSP and the BJP in the past. Nothing has worked for us. While all our land hosts the Jaypee Sports City, there are no industries or alternative jobs," moaned Shiv Dutt Singh, (70). Curiously, people seem to be divided on jailed JD(U) candidate Manveer Tweatia, who had spearheaded the campaign against land acquisition. Villagers say while his efforts earned emotional support, he may not be "capable of bringing about change on his own." |
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60 per cent polling in Gzb
Ghaziabad, February 29 "With over 60,000 voters, the Muradnagar constituency can tilt the power equation. The fact that more and more people are coming out to vote is a welcome change," said Mohammed Zakir, a BSP supporter, while drumming up support for the BSP. Except few sporadic clashes between supporters of the BJP and BSP at Khoda, polling for the five assembly constituencies in Ghaziabad district on Tuesday went off peacefully. The polling began smoothly, with people queuing up outside booths in rural areas. The turnout increased as the day progressed and by 3 pm, the average turnout was over 50 per cent. "The voter turnout this time indicated that people are keen on change and have become aware of the need of casting their vote," said Narendra Sharma, who cast her vote at East Middle School at Raispur in Muradnagar. Villagers came out in droves, with women and children wishing for a young leader to take charge. The situation was no different at Dehradun Public School in Sanjay Nagar. Despite long queues outside polling stations, people were quite well-behaved and cooperated fully with the policemen. In contrast, the turnout at the main city and up-market residential colonies of Ghaziabad such as Rajnagar, Vasundhara and Indirapuram was moderate, except for a marginal increase around the lunch time. Interestingly, people had brought their children along to show them how the electronic voting machines (EVMs) worked. "It is an experience for them. People are realizing the need to instill democratic values in the next generation," said Swati Parashar, who had come to St Paul School in Sector 9, Rajnagar. At Kailaswati Inter College on NH 58 that falls under the Sahibabad constituency, the voter turnout was high all through the day. Colonies such as Arthla, Chitrakut and Sanjay Colony, with a predominance of Dalit and Muslim voters, come under this polling booth. Agents of political parties said the high turnout of Muslim voters and those from backward castes was a positive trend. |
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JNU polls: Sentiment runs against Lyngdoh stand
New Delhi, February 29 But the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations that have been at the centre of discourse in the university since 2008, was an issue that evoked high sentiment at the presidential debate. As the 10 candidates for the most prestigious post of Jawaharlal Nehru University students' union spoke to their electorate last night, some of them spoke bitterly against the elections being held under partially relaxed norms of the Lyngdoh recommendations. "You are finished," said Baljit Singh blatantly to the boisterous crowd of students, pointing out that accepting the "neo-liberal agenda" of the Lyngdoh Committee on the campus was a "surrender" the university student community will always pay for. "You look quite happy with the resumption of elections, I am not. Just go home and read the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations and you will know how your autonomy has been taken for once and for all," the independent candidate said. He blamed the leaders of the student campaign for surrendering the four-year struggle against the norms and ridiculed them for promising to fight after the election. "How on earth will you fight a structure that you yourself have invited to the campus, when you yourself become a part of it," he said to both loud cheers and boos. "I don't need votes. My intention is not to win this election, but to bring this point of view across to you." In 2008, the Supreme Court had stayed the student elections in JNU, citing violations of Lyngdoh Committee norms. After four years of protests, marches at India Gate and rounds of courts, the Supreme Court last December allowed the elections with some relaxations in the norms. While there is a general jubilation at the fact that the democratic process has been restored, a section of students believes there should not have been any acceptance of the recommendations in JNU. "The student unions are the strongest voices against privatisation and hence they are being targeted with tools like Lyngdoh Committee that make the university administration a part of the election process. This is a direct attack on our democratic space," another independent candidate Javed Iqbal Wani said. "And when all political discourse in this election should have been against the Lyngdoh recommendations, what we are witnessing is that the Leftist bodies are attacking each other," he said, expressing disgust at the fact that Leftist groups who had been given the mandate by students to fight their struggle had "failed" them. In 2008 when the election process was stayed, the existing student union dominated by the ultra-Left All India Students Association (AISA) was given an extended mandate by the University General Body Meeting to represent them in the struggle. Zico Dasgupta, the presidential candidate of Students Federation of India (SFI), whose representatives played a frontal role in the negotiations with the Supreme Court's amicus curiae in the case, admitted the reinstatement of elections was but a "partial victory". "A systematic attack is being launched against unionism, be it in JNU, Jamia Milia Islamia or Aligarh Muslim University. And at a time when everyone had given up the fight for our elections, it was our organisation that was at the forefront of the struggle," he said. JNU students vote tomorrow in what will be their first election in four years. The election process at JNU is unique as it a process conducted entirely by students themselves, who first elect an election committee within themselves and entrust it the task of holding a fair election. This year, in line with the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations, a Grievance Redressal Committee has been set up which also has members from the university administration. All parties from the major Leftist players like AISA, SFI, AISF, to mainstream national players like NSUI and ABVP have fielded their candidates. So has Youth For Equality too. The election will be held for four office bearers -- president, vice-president, general secretary and joint secretary -- and councillors for different schools of studies. A total of 123 candidates are in the fray.
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Leaping with joy: 4 birthdays at once
New Delhi, February 29 Mohit Sharma is a government employee. Born on February 29, the 28-year-old celebrated his seventh birthday with close friends. "It's a tricky business, having your birthday on the 29th. But it is also fun," added the 'tiny tot'. Aamir Lone (20), an engineering student from Srinagar's SSM College of Engineering and Technology, said, "After four years, I was able to celebrate my real birthday with my friends. Of course, my friends had the big treat that they were expecting to make up for the missing years and I didn't really mind it." Farhan Amin, studying in class 9, said "My birthday comes every four years. Every year, my friends celebrate their birthdays, but I can't. So this year, I am feeling very happy. Everyone has to wait for my birthday for four years. That makes my birthday special and unique from the birthdays of my friends. Also, I get big gifts to compensate for the missing years," an elated Amin told IANS. Former Indian prime minister, Morarji Desai too was a leapling. He was born on the leap day in 1896. According to the Guinness Book of Records, the only verified example of a family producing three consecutive generations born on February 29 is that of an Irish family. Peter Anthony Keough was born in Ireland on February 29, 1940, while his son Peter Eric was born on the leap day in the United Kingdom (UK) in 1964. His daughter, Bethany Wealth, was in turn born in the UK on February 29, 1996. The earth revolves around the Sun in roughly 365.25 days. In the Gregorian calendar, an extra day is added to February to compensate for the extra time taken in each revolution.
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Science lessons now on mobile phones
New Delhi, February 29 The application -- Science@Mobile -- was launched here today as part of the two-day National Science Day celebrations by director of Inter-University Accelerator Centre Amit Roy. "I believe society without the appreciation and knowledge of science is incomplete. If we do not understand the power and application behind a phenomenon, we would live in darkness and consider it black magic. So the spread of knowledge on science is very important," he said. "The number of mobile phones in the country has touched almost a billion. The penetration of mobiles has been immense, so the service would be of great help to create the right culture for science," Roy said. Vigyan Prasar, an autonomous organisation under the department of science and technology, and IGNOU jointly introduced this service to tap into the potential of mobile phones to popularise science even into rural areas where mobile phones have made substantial penetration. 'Science@Mobile' will provide all types of information on science subjects including news, important days and events, facts, humour, quotes, about scientists, health tips and green tips to its subscribers free of cost. In addition, the content has been grouped into three categories, with the first one not requiring any science background, second one requiring basic science literacy, while the third is for people with science background. Users can subscribe to the service by messaging "SCIMBL" to 092230516161 or clicking the link provided at Vigyan Prasar website.
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Free health check-up for Tihar inmates
New Delhi, February 29 During the two-day camp, while nearly 327 jail inmates got an opportunity to discuss their health problems with specialised doctors of Max Healthcare, the event helped the jail authorities to understand their problems better. The Max India Foundation plans to make such camps a regular feature. It is already supporting Tihar Jail by offering a platform to display the products made by inmates. The hospital is considering ordering linen manufactured by the inmates. "We feel proud to be a partner of Tihar Jail for a noble cause. We have undertaken this initiative to extend our services to the inmates of Tihar Jail, keeping alive the spirit of service towards mankind. Our doctors were happy to be able to provide healthcare services to inmates of the jail," Max Healthcare chief executive officer Dr Ajay Bakshi said. Neeraj Kumar, DG of Tihar Jail, remarked, "Our association with Max Healthcare has helped us understanding the prisoners' problems better. Setting up a health camp is the best way to give quality healthcare service to the inmates. This helps them to cope up with the psychological trauma and other illness." |
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Delhi Tourism bags national award
New Delhi, February 29 Received by chairperson of Delhi Tourism Manish Chattrath and managing director and chief executive officer GG Saxena, the honour came in the 'Best Heritage Walk Category". Such walks have been a regular feature and the joint initiative of Delhi Tourism and INTACH India (Delhi Chapter) since 2005. The walks are conducted in the lesser-known heritage areas of the national capital to offer both locals and tourists a treat of history. The walks, which are interactive, have been helpful in apprising people of the lost grandeurs and the need to make efforts towards conserving them. Along with this, people are also taught about the importance of their environment. Some of the places where such walks take place owing are Mehrauli Archaeological Park, Chandni Chowk, Lodi Gardens, Nizamuddin, Hauz Khas. These walks, organized in groups of about 20 people, are spread over two hours. Besides, there have been customised walks for tourists and schoolchildren at monuments like Humayun's Tomb, Qutab Minar, Red Fort, Purana Qila etc. |
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New Delhi Railway Station is best
New Delhi, February 29 "It was a team effort to maintain cleanliness and passenger friendly facilities, including the lounge, food court and spacious waiting halls," Divisional Rail Manager Ashwani Lohani said after receiving the national tourism award for 2010-11 from President Pratibha Patil. Opened in 1924 as a wayside station, New Delhi station has 16 platforms now -- way up from a single platform station that was formally inaugurated in April, 1956. The station has witnessed a metamorphosis in terms of its infrastructure, aesthetics, passenger amenities and tourist facilities in the past two years. Northern Railways' Delhi Division also got an award for its Rewari steam loco shed, which has been developed as a heritage tourist destination. Currently, the shed has nine steam locomotives in working condition.
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Falak responding: Doc
New Delhi, February 29 "Since Monday morning, Falak is off the ventilator and till now she has not developed any breathing problems and is breathing on her own. If she continues like this for another two days, we can take her out of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)," Deepak Agrawal, assistant professor of neurosurgery at the AIIMS Trauma Centre, told IANS. "We have stopped administering strong antibiotics, she has not developed any infection, and is responding to the treatment," said Agrawal. However, Falak is still in critical condition.
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Radio station boss held for molesting colleague
New Delhi, February 29 Mr Bhatia could not be reached for his comments. The complainant had approached police last December. Police sources said a group of company employees had gone to Rajasthan late last year where the CEO allegedly molested her. A case of molestation was registered and since molestation is a bailable offence, Bhatia was let out.
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BSP MLAs son threatens Russian woman at gunpoint
New Delhi, February 29 Sources said the 24-year-old Russian national claimed that Vivek Singh, son of BSP MLA in Meerut, Chandraveer Singh, barged into her house and stole her crucial documents. She said that Vivek was drunk when he had entered her house. The woman belongs to Mosco. She is pursuing an internship in architecture at an institute in Gurgaon. About a year ago, she met Vivek at a corporate function in Gurgaon. She disclosed that they developed friendship, but their relationship soured after a quarrel over an issue. The woman further disclosed that she had arrived at the Delhi airport early this morning. Vivek was present there to receive her, but she did not go with him. Instead, she hired a taxi and went home at Freedom Fighter Colony in Mehrauli. She told the police that Vivek followed her to her house. He barged in and pointed a revolver at her. Fearing for life, she locked herself inside a bathroom. Vivek then fled with her mobile phone, passport and debit card. The woman lodged a complaint at the Mehrauli police station. A case under Indian Penal Code section 452 (house trespass) and Arms Act was registered against Vivek. The police is searching for him. Vivek was arrested in 2009 for opening fire at a pub in South-East Delhi. His revolver was seized and its licence cancelled. |
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Withdrawal of prosecution against Dikshit opposed
New Delhi, February 29 In an application filed before metropolitan magistrate Sudesh Kumar, Jolly said he may be allowed to intervene in the proceedings as one of the complainants and alleged that the Delhi police had sought withdrawal of prosecution of Dikshit "under influence and pressure of the accused". The police has sought withdrawal of the case filed against Dikshit by then Samajwadi Party candidate Om Prakash for allegedly using loudspeaker during election campaign without permission in 2008. Jolly, who had contested the 2008 Assembly elections against Dikshit, said action should be taken against erring police officials who deliberately did not seize equipment allegedly used by Dikshit during the election campaign. The magistrate, however, listed the application for March 5 before the concerned court as the additional chief metropolitan magistrate (ACMM), before whom the case is pending, was on leave today.
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2 held for drug trafficking
New Delhi, February 29 In the second incident, the crime branch apprehended a foreign national, Henry Lucky (32), for being allegedly being involved in the trafficking of drugs. He hails from Uganda in Africa and lives at Mahavir Enclave in Palam. The police recovered 26 gram cocaine from him. It is worth Rs 26 lakh.
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Warm day in Delhi
New Delhi, February 29 The humidity levels ranged from a maximum of 88 per cent to a minimum of 34 per cent.
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