New Delhi, January 23
Based on the lines of Lokpal Bill of Uttarakhand, the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) ambitious Jan Lokpal Bill is likely to be cleared by the Delhi Cabinet tomorrow.

"The Cabinet is most likely to approve the Jan Lokpal Bill tomorrow," said a top official in government.

The final draft of the Bill has been approved by the Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. According to the sources, the Bill is likely to bring under its ambit the three power distribution companies of the city, and all other agencies that use government funds.

The proposed Bill will also empower the authorities to take action against the tainted officers unlike in the Lokayukta. The present Lokayukta only conducts inquiry against the alleged ministers and officers and send the report to the President for taking any action.

Sources said that the Jan Lokpal Bill is motivated by Uttarakhand's Lokpal Bill. The Lokpal Bill of the hill state has been empowered to take action against the tainted officers of Indian Administrative Services and Indian Police Services, sitting and ex-ministers and chief ministers. The punishment in that Bill can vary from six months to life imprisonment.

The Bill was much propagated by the Aam Aadmi Party during its campaign before the assembly polls and it had announced to approve the Bill in a special session which was to be called at Ramlila Grounds on December 29. Announced in almost all the advertisements of AAP, its leader Arvind Kejriwal had made call to the people of Delhi inviting them to be part of the session. However, the session could not be convened then.

The sources in Chief Minister's office said that the session, the date of which will be finalised tomorrow, will be organised at Ramlila Grounds. "Unless there appears some objection, it is planned to be organised at Ramlila Ground," said the sources.

The government has also worked out its 'Swaraj Bill' which is being enacted to empower RWAs.

New Delhi, January 23
A delegation of Delhi Congress leaders today met Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, urging him to take action against the controversial Law Minister Somnath Bharti for allegedly leading a group of assaulters in a midnight raid last week.

The delegation headed by Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee chief Arvinder Singh Lovely met Jung, seeking an impartial probe into the case and action against Bharti based on 'available evidence'.

"The Delhi police is not probing the case thoroughly. We have demanded that the LG direct the police to proceed as per law in this case. The Law Minister is not above law. Whatever legal action is to be taken should be taken. The LG has assured us of a fair probe," Lovely said.

Asked if the Congress demanded sacking of Bharti, the DPCC president said that the party 'only' sought LG's direction to the Delhi Police to take action in the case as per law.

Bharti was involved in a row with the police last week when it refused to raid an alleged drug and prostitution racket.

One of the African women, who recorded her statement before a magistrate, said she identified Bharti as having led the group that barged into her house and attacked them.

Lovely said the Congress delegation also took up the issue of violation of Section 144 of the CrPC by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by staging a two-day protest outside Rail Bhavan in the Raisina Hills area.

Refusing to withdraw support to the AAP-led government, Lovely said that the Congress gave outside support to the AAP on 18 issues related to public welfare.

"If the AAP government does not work on these issues, we would definitely consider withdrawing support," Lovely added. Delhi Congress leader Mukesh Sharma, who was also part of the delegation, said the Law Minister should be arrested for what he had allegedly done.

New Delhi, January 23
The Delhi BJP in a meeting held here today decided to submit a memorandum to the President, Pranab Mukherjee, demanding the sack of Law Minister Somnath Bharti on alleged charges of misbehaving with women of African origin at Khirki Extension.

Leader of the Opposition in the assembly Harsh Vardhan said that the party MLAs decided to launch a massive agitation in the city for the immediate dismissal of the Law Minister. They will meet Lieutenant Governor, Union Home Minister and the President after the Republic Day and submit their representation.

A delegation of the BJP today met Delhi Police Commissioner B.S. Bassi to demand immediate action against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the Law Minister for repeatedly breaking the law. The delegation handed over a memorandum to Bassi.

The delegation members asked the Police Commissioner why the police are treating Bharti and Kejriwal as 'khaas aadmi' and no action is being taken against them. Bharti has also been named in the FIR lodged by the Ugandan women after he allegedly misbehaved with them and tried to conduct an illegal raid in their house. Similarly, Kejriwal violated Section 144 of the IPC repeatedly during his dharna at Rail Bhavan in full public view for two days and yet he has not been booked and no action has been initiated against him, the members said.

New Delhi, January 23
In view of tight security for the Republic Day Parade, Metro services will be partially curtailed in the city on January 26.

"As per instructions of Delhi police, the services of Delhi Metro will be partially curtailed on January 26 as part of the security arrangements for the Republic Day celebrations," a DMRC official said today.

Besides, all station parking lots will remain closed from 2 pm of January 25 to 2 pm of January 26.

Metro services schedule for Line 2 (HUDA City Centre to Jahangirpuri), Line 3 (Noida City Centre to Dwarka Sector 21), Line 4 (Yamuna Bank to Vaishali) and Line 6 (Central Secretariat to Badarpur) have been partially modified.

On January 26, on the HUDA City Centre to Jahangirpuri, the entry and exit at Central Secretariat and Udyog Bhawan stations will remain closed from 6 am to 12 noon.

The entry and exit of Patel Chowk and Race Course stations will remain closed from 9 am to 12 noon.

Central Secretariat station will only be used for interchange of passengers between Line 2 and Line 6.

On the Dwarka Sector 21 to Noida City Centre (Line 3) and Vaishali to Yamuna Bank (Line 4), Mandi House and Pragati Maidan stations will be closed from 10:45 am for an hour.

Trains will be run in three short loops on NOIDA City Centre to Indraprastha, Vaishali to Yamuna Bank and Dwarka Sector 21 to Barakhamba Road corridors.

Also, Central Secretariat to Badarpur (Line 6) entry and exit at Central Secretariat station will remain closed from 6 am to 12 noon and will only be used for interchange of passengers between Line 2 and Line 6.

New Delhi, January 23
The South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) today inaugurated a free drinking water kiosk in the Lodhi area here.

The kiosk is part of a pilot project of the civic body that eventually seeks to provide free drinking water facility in all the areas falling under it.

"We formally inaugurated a small drinking water kiosk in the Lodhi area today. It is a pilot project and we are executing it on a public-private-partnership basis," said SDMC Mayor Sarita Choudhary.

The Mayor added that the idea was initiated in July last year, but the civic body was waiting for approval of the House.

"Many agencies, including private companies, NGOs, market associations and religious associations had approached us with the concept of these 'PPP-pyaus'. The water is free for people and all that we are charging from the agencies is a nominal licence fee," Choudhary said.

She said if the idea works out to be a success, the corporation will implement it in all its areas.