New Delhi, November 25
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today criticized the Opposition and other parties for continuing a false propaganda against the Delhi government just to get political mileage in the assembly polls. She asked the Opposition to come out with the correct facts and figures.

Dikshit addressed several public meetings at Khel Parisar in Aya Nagar, Mehrauli, (Chattarpur constituency), Baba Ramdev Park (Devli constituency), Jagdamba Road, Tuglakabad Extn. (Sangam Vihar constiuency), Sanjay Colony Okhla (Tughlaqabad constituency), Saurabh Vihar (Badarpur constituency) and Shahin Bagh (Okhla constituency).

Dikshit asked people to evaluate the contribution of the Congress government in making the city best in respect of modern infrastructure. She reiterated her commitment to accelerate the pace of development in order to improve the standard of living of all sections of society.

"We have been able to regularize 895 unauthorised colonies in one go despite many hurdles. The BJP had not cared to spend a single penny in unauthorized colonies what to talk of regularization. We also granted ownership rights to 45 resettlement colonies," she said.

These two steps helped the government in changing the lot of 50 lakh people, she said.

"We have removed the fear of demolitions or uprooting from the minds of these people for ever as ours is a sensitive and welfare government," Dikshit said.

She appealed to people not to waste their vote by exercising their franchise in favour any new political party as this would deflate the 'Development Express' and take the city to the back gear.

"Congress would continue to develop Delhi if voted to power. The expansion of Metro and commissioning of the Mono rail and Tramways would further make the journey of people more comfortable," she said.

New Delhi, November 25
BJP's chief ministerial candidate Harsh Vardhan said that if his party comes to power, "we will ensure that a safe, reliable and cost-effective public transport system is available to every citizen of Delhi. Public transport will be so attractive that people will stop using their cars, their scooters and bikes".

He said that Delhi's Metro railway plan was conceived by the BJP government and the first Metro Rail was inaugurated by Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Now its network is expending. "We will ensure its further expansion. We will make it more convenient for our citizens to use the Metro by providing sufficient feeder services and electric three-wheel vehicles at every station," he said.

Addressing a conference, Vardhan said, "We must lead by example. Our government will discard inefficient old vehicles and adopt green and fuel-efficient vehicles.

“In order to reduce the movement of government vehicles, we will make extensive use of video conferencing. Our government will encourage senior officials and ministers to periodically use public transport."

If voted to power, he said, "We will integrate all modes of public transport and ensure that passengers can go seamlessly from the origin to their destination. The Metro Rail, DTC and Cluster bus systems, Metro-feeder buses and Ring Railway will be integrated to provide an end-to-end connectivity to the commuter."

He also promised to encourage battery rickshaws and cycles for covering short distances. "Cycle is one of the best modes of transport. We will explore the deployment of Personal Rapid Transit ('Podcar') networks in congested areas," he said.

"We will introduce the One Delhi Card, a unified contactless smart card that can be used in all forms of public transport. Citizens will be able to buy and re-charge the card online. Students will be provided the smart cards at concessional rates," Vardhan said.

He also talked of an integrated passenger information system to provide route guides, timetables and real-time information at all bus stops and Metro stations.

Vardhan promised world-class inter-state bus terminals in Narela and Nazafgarh while the terminals at Anand Vihar and Sarai Kale Khan will be upgraded to international standards.

A special transportation plan will be made for the walled city and congested areas.

Dwarka being Asia's largest township will be given special attention, he said.

New Delhi, November 25
A 29-year-old woman was shot at and then strangulated allegedly by her nephew inside her house in east Delhi's Kalyanpuri area today.

According to the police, the deceased, Savita, was allegedly attacked by her nephew, Raja (23), who was seen fleeing her house with a pistol.

Savita lived with her husband, Ravi Kumar Vaidh and two daughters. Ravi works for the municipal corporation. Raja had recently shifted to her house after an argument with his parents.

Sources said that Raja's parents would often scold him for drinking. In order to avoid arguments, he had started living with Savita and her family. Raja was recently sacked from office because of his drinking habits, according to the police.

"Ravi also scolded Raja because of his fights with his parents," said a police officer. Ravi had asked Raja to leave his house recently. The police suspect that Savita and Raja had an argument on Monday and Raja allegedly opened fire on her in a rage.

Neighbours rushed to the house on hearing the gunshot and found Savita lying in a pool of blood.

The police were informed at about 9 am today. A police team reached Savita's house and took her to the Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital in east Delhi, where she was declared dead.

Doctors reportedly told the police that Savita had sustained a bullet injury on her right hand and there were strangulation marks on her neck.

Investigators said that Ravi was not in his residence when the incident took place. The couple's daughters had also gone to a relative's house on Sunday. Ravi told the police that Raja worked as a driver with a private firm.

A case of murder under Indian Penal Code and Arms Act has been filed on the basis of Ravi's statement at the Kalyanpuri police station. The police are searching for Raja.

New Delhi, November 25
Three men who are allegedly part of a major gunrunning racket that procures firearms from Madhya Pradesh and sells them to gangsters in Delhi, Meerut and Muzaffarnagar, have been arrested.

The men who were caught by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police have been identified as Usman, alias Mangta (57), Umarddin (41), both are residents of Muzaffarnagar, UP, and Pappu Solanki (26), who is from Dhar district in Madhya Pradesh.

"We received information that a huge consignment of illegal weapons will be supplied to Usman and Umardin by Solanki near Sarai Kale Khan ISBT on November 12. The police apprehended the three men near Sarai Kale Khan. We seized eight pistols with magazines from them," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Sanjeev Kumar Yadav.

According to Yadav, Irfan would allegedly place the order of firearms to Sardar Singh and Tanman Singh. Several gangsters demanded weapons from Irfan.

"Irfan would instruct Usman and Umarddin to come to Delhi by bus or car from Muzaffarnagar. After reaching Delhi they would call Irfan or Tanman Singh, who sent Solanki to Delhi to hand over the weapons to them. A total of 80-90 pistols have been handed over to Irfan by Usman and Umarddin and about 200-225 pistols have been delivered by Solanki to different people," said Yadav.

The officer said that apart from Munger in Bihar, the firearms were also manufactured in the forests located at Balwadi in Badwani district, Madhya Pradesh. The weapons were smuggled from Badwani to Delhi and the NCR.

Investigators said that Saradar is allegedly the manufacturer and main supplier of arms and ammunition. "He manufactures and delivers the firearms to his contacts in Delhi and the NCR through Solanki. He supplies at least one consignment every week to Delhi, Agra, Mathura, Jaipur, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar and some parts of Maharashtra," Yadav added.

New Delhi, November 25
A 52-year-old property dealer was allegedly robbed of Rs 10 lakh by motorcycle-borne assailants in broad daylight today, after he had withdrawn cash from a bank in northeast Delhi's Dilshad Garden area.

The victim has been identified by the police as Abdul Gaffar, who has his office at Dilshad Garden.

At about 1.30 pm today, Abdul with his son, Mohammed Javed, went to HDFC bank at Dilshad Garden and withdrew Rs 10 lakh. Abdul put the cash in a bag and handed it to his son.

According to the police, when Abdul and Javed were returning to their office, they were intercepted by two persons on a bike.

"The assailants were wearing helmets. They snatched the bag from Javed and drove away. The victims tried to chase the assailants but couldn't succeed. They then made a call to the police," said a police officer.

Abdul told the police that he had withdrawn the cash to buy a plot at Dilshad Garden.

Meanwhile, the CCTV footage of the site is being examined by the police.