New Delhi, October 30
Desperate for a fourth term in Delhi, the Congress might end up fielding all its sitting MLAs for the upcoming assembly polls with the six member screening committee today giving its stamp of approval to 40 sitting legislators.

These include eight from a list that had been kept pending by the Central Election Committee headed by party president Sonia Gandhi which met here last week. The CEC had failed to reach a consensus on 11 sitting MLAs' nomination and referred the matter for a decision to the screening panel comprising Sheila Dikshit, Delhi Congress chief JP Agarwal, MoS PMO V Narayanasamy, general secretary AICC (Delhi) Shakeel Ahmed and secretary AICC Kuljeet Nagra.

Top sources in the Congress informed The Tribune that only three sitting MLAs have their fate hanging in the balance. Among them are Education Minister Kiran Walia, Transport Minister Ramakant Goswami and Seelampur MLA Matin Ahmed.

The observer reports as well as the Congress' internal survey reports have predicted defeat of these three MLAs if they are nominated again.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit however is in favour of giving a ticket to all the sitting legislators and has sought an appointment with Congress president Sonia Gandhi to discuss the issue.

New Delhi, October 30
A woman lawyer allegedly attempted to commit suicide by consuming a heavy dose of sleeping pills near the Vasant Vihar police station in south Delhi last evening.

According to the police, about a year ago, the woman had stayed with another lawyer whom she accused of allegedly raping her on the pretext of marriage.

The police had registered a case in regard to the allegations and arrested the accused then.

On Tuesday, the accused was granted bail by the Delhi High Court. The victim went to his brother's house in Daryaganj to discuss the matter. After the discussion, the woman vowed to lodge a complaint with the police against the accused, who had reportedly approached her after being released from jail.

She boarded an autorickshaw to the Vasant Vihar police station and on the way she consumed sleeping pills. When she reached the police station, she lost consciousness.

Some police officers noticed her and rushed her to hospital where she regained consciousness and was later discharged. She then met high-ranking police officers of the South District in connection with her complaint. 

New Delhi, October 30
Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung today directed the government to constitute a committee which would address the issues of shelter, security, food, health and sanitation of the homeless in Delhi.

The directions to this effect were issued at a meeting with senior officers of the Delhi Government, MCD, DDA, Delhi Police and representatives of various NGOs working for homeless people. The NGOs included Ashray Adhikar Abhiyan, SPYM, Housing and Land Rights, IGSSS, Prayas, Nirman Samiti, Prerna Trust, Shakti Shalini, Nirmana, Human People to People, etc.

The working group will have representatives from NGOs and the government and submit its report within three weeks. The committee would ensure a comprehensive and sustainable plan for the homeless.

The LG lauded the role of the NGOs who are working in this field and assured them of full cooperation of the government. 

New Delhi, October 30
Acting on an intelligence input received by the Excise Intelligence Bureau, the Delhi Excise department has seized a mixing unit of illicit liquor in Mehrauli, said a senior government official.

“The unit was busted by a team of Excise department and Excise Intelligence Bureau, along with the local police,” said the official.

A total of 40 bottles of foreign liquor, 72 bottles of Indian Made Foreign Liquor and 300 empty bottles were recovered from the unit. — TNS