New Delhi, July 16
Going all out to woo voters in the wake of the Delhi Assembly elections, the state BJP today said that it asked the three BJP-ruled municipal corporations in the city to provide relief on commercial tax.

The municipal corporations have decided to lower the commercial tax to 12 per cent for those properties whose rate was hiked to 20 per cent. This would mean a relief of around Rs 300 crore to the residents of the city.

"The decision was taken after we asked the BJP leadership in the corporations to roll back the commercial tax. This would benefit, at least, four-five lakh commercial property owners," said state party president Vijay Goel.

Those who have already deposited the increased tax would be given relief by either refund of the amount or by adjusting it against their future tax liabilities, he said.

During the course of meetings with leaders of the corporations, Goel emphasised that the loss of revenue due to the rollback of commercial tax needs to be compensated by other sources of revenue.3

The corporation leaders said that all the civic agencies would augment their revenue through innovative schemes.

"The focus of the BJP-ruled corporations is on people-friendly policies and the decision of rollback of commercial taxes is part of the same," said Goel.

New Delhi, July 16
The BJP minority cell office-bearers from North East District, including presidents, vice-presidents, general secretaries, secretaries, members, joined the Congress at Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) office.

DPCC president Jai Prakash Agarwal, MP, gave them the Congress membership.

"BJP's Minority Cell Morcha of North East District joined the Congress with none left in the BJP. We welcome them all and are happy that they have left an opportunistic party and joined the Congress," said Aggarwal.

Those who have joined the Congress included Aslam Shafi, Veelawar, Syed Asad, Mohd. Naseem, Gul Sanowar, Mohd. Imran, Sameer Ilahi, Mohd. Khan, Feroze Shafi, Yusuf Malik, Mohd. Fayyaz, Mohd Rizwan, Amir Aziz Sakiv, Amjad Ali, Hamid Ali, Mohd Naeem Khan, Mohd Nazeem and other office-bearers.

"This minority morcha was working for the BJP, but now they have all joined the Congress.

“Muslims were with the Congress and they will live and die for the Congress," said Ch. Mateen, Congress MLA of Seelampur.

He said that the Muslims in Delhi will support the Congress in the assembly elections.

New Delhi, July 16
Bhim Sain Bassi, a 1977 batch Indian Police Service officer, has been appointed the Police Commissioner of Delhi.

He would take over his new posting on August 1, after the incumbent commissioner, Neeraj Kumar, retires on July 31.

The Union Home Ministry today sent a formal letter to Delhi Police confirming the appointment of Bassi. The officer is presently serving as the Special Commissioner of Police (Administration) in Delhi.

According to Delhi Police officers, Bassi has almost three years to serve as commissioner. He is likely to retire in February 2016.

Bassi completed his graduation from the Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC). He became an IPS officer at a young age of 21 in 1977.

From 2000 and 2002, he served as Inspector General of Police in Chandigarh.

Later, he was transferred to Delhi as Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic). He has been the Special Commissioner of Police (Administration) since January 16, 2012. 

New Delhi, July 16
At a time when the women's safety remains an issue in the country, discrimination against them starting from education to employment stands reaffirmed as brought out by the latest ASSOCHAM Ladies League (ALL) survey "Challenges for Women in Modern India: In workplace and Society," released here today by Member of Parliament and Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj who feels political empowerment is the first step to uplift women.

"The government should bring the Women's Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha as we have already supported it in the Rajya Sabha. Political empowerment is the real empowerment as it provides authority. I often say that doctor or an IT may not have the same power as that of a female peon of a lady SP," Swaraj said while addressing during a panel discussion on the same lines.

Nonetheless, challenges continue to impede women on all fronts with nearly 97 per cent of women in Delhi and National Capital Territory surveyed saying that they have faced discrimination at some point of their life, be it at home, school, college or at workplace.

Almost 55 per cent women felt the heat of the discriminatory practice at work and their male colleagues get better paid than them even though the responsibilities of a married women top those of their counterparts, reveals the survey carried over 10,000 working women, with 60 per cent in the informal sector and homemakers and college students from the middle and upper economic strata here.

The survey also found out that most of the surveyed women lacked financial independence with their earnings going into the family kitty and when it comes to visiting a doctor when they are unwell, it is the family's last priority. About 29 per cent of women confirmed that they still face sexual harassment in offices, homes and public transport.

Even though the literacy level is dismal with just 30 per cent of the sample completed VIII and 70 per cent having undergone vocational training, what is encouraging that almost 90 per cent of women who had some form of education have their say in the decision-making process.

New Delhi, July 16
A girl was allegedly molested by a man at a party inside the Hotel Taj Palace in Chanakyapuri yesterday.

The accused identified as Samay Kumar has been arrested. He had come to attend the party at the hotel.

A police official said that during the party, the accused allegedly approached the girl and began to molest her. When the victim spurned his advances, the accused apologised, saying it happened accidentally.

After a while, the accused again tried to paw her. When the victim objected, a minor argument ensued between the two, which resulted in the accused allegedly misbehaving with her.

The girl's brother intervened in the matter and the accused threatened him also.

Soon the victim called the police and the accused was arrested. A case has been registered.