New Delhi, January 13
With the distribution of filled liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders in the Rajinder Nagar assembly constituency, the government has begun the process of making Delhi a kerosene-free state.

The constituency is represented by the Transport Minister, Ramakant Goswami.

A few years ago, the government had announced that it would distribute gas cylinders and stoves free of charge to the BPL cardholders to make the Capital kerosene-free.

Goswami distributed cylinders, LPG connections and gas stoves to 150 BPL families during a function organised at Pusa.

Speaking on the occasion, the minister stated that the scheme has been prepared to make Delhi a kerosene-free state. Delhi is all set to become the first such state in the country. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has always been trying to mould the schemes in such a way that the weaker section of society gets more benefits.

He also stated that the government has earmarked of Rs 200 crore during this financial year for this purpose. It has decided to provide three more subsidised cylinders to the beneficiaries of the scheme.

Kitchens would now become smoke-free and women would be saved from several diseases because of the smoke, he added.

The Transport Minister later distributed 500 blankets to the homeless.

New Delhi, January 13
Concerned about the fact that some of the leading hospitals in private sector do not treat poor patients free of charge, the Delhi Government has decided to crack the whip.

Aware that its ambitious plan of developing the national Capital into a world-class city, cannot be completed without Delhi providing quality health care to the poor, the government has issued notices to the defaulting hospitals. At the same time, the government has planned to use modern communication technology to tell the poor about the availability of beds in such hospitals.

Recent studies by the Health Department show that some of the leading private hospitals, including super-speciality set-ups, that were allotted prime lands at concessional rates, are found wanting in implementing the legal provisions on providing free treatment to the patients belonging to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).

In March 2007, the Supreme Court asked the government to ensure that such hospitals provide free treatment to the poor.

Cracking the whip, the Delhi Health Department recently issued notices to 34 defaulting private hospitals for not complying with the directions of the court between January and August 2012, said Health Minister Dr AK Walia.

At present, 43 private hospitals should provide free treatment to EWS patients. After a study, 50 per cent of these hospitals were given a 'poor' grade for failing to adhere to the court ruling.

According to the data provided by the health department, the 'poor' hospitals include some big corporate hospitals situated in South and Central Delhi, including some super-speciality ones.

The city government formed a monitoring committee to supervise free treatment in these hospitals. The committee said that out of 34 hospitals, ten were found to be big defaulters.

"Notices have been sent to hospitals asking them to explain why proceedings of contempt of court should not be initiated against them," said Dr Walia.

"We found that some hospitals improved their services towards the poor, but ten of them were still found wanting," said Dr RN Das, member of the monitoring committee.

"These are among the well-established hospitals in the city, including the ones in Saket and Vasant Kunj. They have been sent notices and an application has also been filed in the court," Das said.

At the same time, Dr Walia appreciated the services of eight hospitals which were found to be fully complying with the directions of the court. These are: Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Bimla Devi Hospital, Venu Eye Institute, Vinayak Hospital, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Bhagwati Hospital and Bhagwan Mahavir Hospital.

The members of the committee said that the staffs of many hospitals do not behave properly with poor patients. Some hospitals also insist on seeing BPL cards-something which is not mandatory.

New Delhi, January 13
A 45-year-old businessman was shot dead by two assailants when he resisted their attempt at robbery in his flour shop, a senior police official said on Sunday.

"Naresh Sharma, (45), was closing his shop at Kamruddin Nagar in Nangloi when two gun-toting assailants in their early 20s, barged into his shop on Saturday night," said the official.

The assailants overpowered Sharma and his three workers at gunpoint. They told him to open the locker of the cupboard containing cash. As Sharma resisted, one of them opened fire at him and a bullet was pumped into his abdomen. The assailants then took away the entire cash with them, said the police official.

Sharma was taken to the Maharshi Valmiki Hospital where he was declared brought dead, the official said.

"We have registered a case of robbery and murder against unknown persons and begun the probe," said V Renganathan, Additional Commissioner of Police.

"The involvement of more than two might be possible behind the crime," he said.

New Delhi, January 13
Located right behind the North Block and Parliament, the historic Rakab Ganj Gurdwara denotes the seat of power for Sikhs in Delhi. It is here that the beheaded body of the ninth Sikh Guru Teg Bahadur was cremated in 1675. The office of the cash-rich Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) sits in one corner of the sprawling central Delhi complex.

The original shrine is almost 230 years old and part of the notified heritage structures in Delhi. Now, the Gurdwara has a marble facade and is the place from where Sikh matters of Delhi are decided even as Sis Ganj and Bangla Sahib top the list of revered shrines. The Sarai is often used by the devout to stay for a few days. The Sikh belief resonated at its best during the trust vote in Parliament in July 2008. As the debate heated up in Parliament to decide the fate of Manmohan Singh, the first Sikh Prime Minister, a round-the-clock path (prayer) for the PM was conducted at Rakab Ganj. Ironically, the Gurdwara loudspeaker had then broadcast the prayers, forming a soothing backdrop to those politically charged days.

As of today, the biggest issue is the construction of a multi-level underground parking facility which was stopped in April 2012 following a Delhi High Court directive. The inadequate parking facility cropped up during a prayer meeting for the slain Ponty Chadha. Roads were jammed for kilometers as thousands turned up in their cars to pay last respects.

A public interest litigation filed by the Sikh Forum for Service and Justice had been taken up by the court. The NDMC had rejected the proposal for redevelopment of the premises, including a three-level underground parking facility. The civic body mentioned 23 reasons for rejecting the DSGMC plan.

The shrine's history is related to Guru Teg Bahadur. A disciple of the Guru, Lakhi Shah Vanjara hid his body in haystacks and cotton bales and 'sped off' on a bullock cart from Chandni Chowk. Since then, Rakab Ganj has evoked deep feelings among the Sikhs. It was at this spot that Lakhi Shah Vanjara and his eight sons placed the body of the Guru on a pile of sandalwood and set fire to their entire house to avoid suspicion of the Mughals, who had beheaded him.

In 1783, the Sikh Army defeated the Mughals. The Sikhs wanted a Gurdwara in memory of the Guru in village Raisina (now part of the President's Estate).

The Sikh Review edition of 1980 said, "A copper urn containing the mortal remains of the ninth Sikh Guru was found at the site. The Wazir gave orders for demolition of the mosque and construction of Gurdwara."

The name Rakab is derived from the Persian word 'Rukab' meaning stirrups (foot rests) attached to the saddle of horse riders. Dr H.S. Singha, in his book 'Sikh Studies', explains, "They (Lakhi Shah) used to live in a colony of stirrup makers, hence the name Rakab Ganj."

New Delhi, January 13
India created a record of success in the world. But during the Congress-rule, the country is passing through a phase of lack of leadership. India has lost its credibility at home and abroad, said Arun Jaitley, senior leader of the BJP, in a rally at Chhatarpur today.

He said the country is facing many crises while the Prime Minister is not able to take any decision.

While addressing the rally, Jaitley said that the development rate of India has gone down to 5 per cent. The condition of the country is so bad that Maoists, Naxalites, terrorists and other criminal elements are busy in anti-Indian activities and the government is not able to do anything against them.

The Maoists killed security men and mutilated their bodies. The brutal rape was committed in Delhi and about half a dozen incidents of rape were reported recently. Pakistan also infiltrated into the Indian territory. Two soldiers were killed and beheaded, but the government could not do anything, Jaitely said.

Delhi state party president Vijender Gupta said that the Metro rail service was inaugurated on December 25, 2002, during the BJP rule.

He said the standard of living in Delhi is worsening. The water and power tariffs have been increased, putting a lot of burden on the common man.