New Delhi, March 25
One of the oldest parliamentary constituencies--Chandni Chowk--will witness a triangular contest featuring its two-time sitting Congress MP and Union Minister Kapil Sibal, BJP's local heavyweight Dr Harsh Vardhan and Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) journalist-turned-politician Ashutosh in this round of Lok Sabha elections to be held on April 10.

In the previous election, the contest was mainly between two major political parties -the Congress and the BJP. Sibal, who was the Congress candidate, had won the elections with a margin of over two lakh votes.

In this election, a total number of 41 contestants have filed the nominations, but the battle will be among the three parties---the Congress, the BJP and the AAP. The Congress and the AAP have the same vote bank-Muslims, Dalits and the voters living in JJ clusters while the BJP has its cadre-based vote which include traders and upper caste Hindu vote.

Besides, the BJP has started making inroads in Muslim pockets with the help of its minority cell, which has been very active in these minority-dominated areas. The inroads being made by the BJP in the minority-dominated areas is a phenomenon happening for the first time in the history of the party.

The Chandni Chowk constituency has 14.13 lakh voters, among them 6.29 lakh are females and 7.83 lakh males. Its voters can be divided into three categories: trader approximately 16 per cent, Muslims 15 per cent and Punjabis 20 per cent.

The constituency is divided into 10 assembly segments-Ballimaran, Matia Mahal (both predominant by the Muslim electorate that constitutes approximately 35 per cent), Sadar Bazar, Chandni Chowk (both have about 25 per cent Muslims), Tri Nagar, Shakur Basti, Wazirpur, Model Town, Shalimar Bagh and Adarsh Nagar.

Voters from the trader's community dominate in Bazaar Sita Ram, Chawri Bazar, Ajmeri Gate, Delhi Gate, Daryaganj, Nai Sarak, Chandni Chowk, Dariba, Fatehpuri, Khari Baoli, Naya Bazaar, Kashmere Gate, Mori Gate, Azad Market, Pahari Dheeraj, Sabzi Mandi and Ghanta Ghar.

Besides, upscale voters reside in Model Town, Shalimar Bagh, Ashok Vihar, Pitampura, Shakur Basti, Tri Nagar.

JJ clusters are in Adarsh Nagar, Lal Bagh in Model Town, Sarai Phoos near Wazirpur, Tibetan Market and some pockets in Tri Nagar.

In the assembly election held in December 2013, the Congress won only two seats -Ballimaran and Chandni Chowk, the AAP and the BJP bagged four seats each. Though since 1957, the Congress has won the Chandni Chowk seat eight times, the BJP three times and the Bharatiya Jan Sangh once in 1967. In 1977 after the Emergency, the seat was won by the BLD and Sikandar Bakht was MP from the constituency.

The key issues on which the candidates are contesting the elections are corruption, the AAP factor and the Modi factor,

Kapil Sibal claims that he will win the election the third time. The AAP is not a factor for him. The party is now exposed after selling dreams to people in the assembly election. There is no Modi wave at least in Chandni Chowk. "I have done development work. My work speaks," He said.

BJP candidate Dr Harsh Vardhan said that for the last two terms of Parliament, there has been no development in the area. There are unresolved issues like parking in the congested locality, development of Shahjahanabad, inflation and corruption. Sibal visits the area only during elections, Vardhan said.

New Delhi, March 25
In the presence of chairman of BJP Delhi Pradesh Lok Sabha Election Campaign Committee Prof. Vijay Kumar Malhotra, BSP leader Trilok Chand Sharma and former Congress councillor Sugreev Singh joined the saffron party today along with hundreds of supporters.

Sharma contested as the BSP candidate from the Rajinder Nagar Assembly constituency in 2008 and 2013. Sharma has been serving the people of Rajinder Nagar through his organization 'Sahyog' for several years.

Sugreev Singh was twice elected as councillor of the Congress. He had been working for the party since 1998. He deserted the Congress due to its anti-poor policies and decided to join the BJP.

On the other side, BSP leaders Veer Singh Bidhuri from Sangam Vihar, Surendra Pawar from Mehrauli and former Municipal Councillor Nafisa Khatun joined the Congress at the DPCC office today. Bidhuri and Pawar had contested the last assembly elections on the BSP tickets.

Welcoming the leaders, Congress Legislative Party leader Haroon Yusuf said that the Aam Aadmi Party, the BSP and other parties had lost the people's trust and the Congress will have direct fight with the BJP in all the seven seats.

Both the leaders said the AAP was not in a position to save its deposit in any of the parliamentary constituencies in Delhi. "The voters of Delhi were disappointed with the AAP and they have made up their mind to vote for the Congress which stands for the development of Delhi. The party is in a strong position in South Delhi," said DPCC spokesperson Mukesh Sharma.

New Delhi, March 25
The chairman of BJP Delhi Pradesh Lok Sabha Election Campaign Committee, Prof Vijay Kumar Malhotra, said that the incidents of terrorist attacks were averted with the arrest of IM activists in a joint operation of Delhi and Rajasthan Police on Sunday.

However, there are many other centres of Pakistani ISI in India and the danger of terrorist attack persists, said Malhotra.

He said that these terrorists were targeting the public meetings of BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi at the behest of Pakistan and planning to trigger riots before the elections. The Pakistani terrorist, Waqas, who was arrested from Ajmer revealed that IM activists were planning to act as human bombs, causing stampede in the meetings.

Malhotra said in such a situation, all the nationalists should cooperate with the police and intelligence agencies to eliminate the Pakistani agents from India.

Malhotra said that some leaders had recently insulted the martyrdom of inspector Mohan Chandra Sharma who was killed during an encounter at Batla House a few years ago.

New Delhi, March 25
AIIMS nurses' union will stage a three-day protest from tomorrow at Jantar Mantar demanding stringent action against the Deputy Nursing Superintendent and Chief Nursing Officer of AIIMS over the recent death of a nurse Molly Siddichan, who allegedly committed suicide at her home.

According to the AIIMS nurses' union, Molly who worked in the Intensive Care Unit of the Neuro Tower centre for eight years, was transferred to the ward where she was being harassed mentally by the administration.

While AIIMS has constituted a committee to probe into the matter, AIIMS nurses union stated that the probe cannot be free and fair as it has the Chief Nursing Officer as one of the members of the four-member committee.

"How can the probe be free and fair when the four member committee constituted by AIIMS director has the Chief Nursing Officer as one of the members. We demand constitution of a fresh and independent committee in this regard," said Anil Kumar, Joint Secretary of the AIIMS nurses union.

Further, the union demanded immediate suspension of the Deputy Nursing Superintendent of cardio-neuro centre and Chief Nursing Officer of AIIMS.

"Her duty was transferred to the ward in the Neuro Tower centre where she was being mentally harassed by the administration. She was frequently put on night duty and even her child care leave was not sanctioned," said Kumar.

The union demanded implementation of common transfer and leave policy, redressing the pending complaints by union and nursing staff and also adequate compensation to the family of the deceased.

However, the Nurses' Union does not want the hospital activities to get affected and thus the protest will be attended by the nursing staff when they dont have shifts. — PTI

New Delhi, March 25
A 34-year-old Nigerian man was stabbed to death and another injured by a fellow Nigerian following an argument at a house in south Delhi's Neb Sarai late on Monday.

The deceased has been identified as Osifo and the injured man is Kelvin. Police said that the incident came to light when a local saw Kelvin lying in front of a shop at Neb Sarai.

The police were informed about the incident at about 4 am. Investigators said that Kelvin had arrived at Osifo's house to attend a birthday party of Osifo's friend,

Friday. "When they reached the flat, they found Osifo lying in the drawing room," said a police officer. He was taken to a hospital, where he was declared dead.

The police learnt that Osifo's friends had gathered at his house for the birthday party, where an argument took place between the victims and the accused Harry, who is also a Nigerian national. Harry then took out a knife and stabbed both of them. He escaped from the house, but was arrested later.

In a separate incident at Neb Sarai, another Nigerian national claims he was beaten up by a fellow Nigerian and his friend on March 22.

Okfor Basil, a resident of Krishna Park, told the police that the attack took place when he we went to meet a former roommate, Agbie. "Okfor was supposed to take Rs 25,000 from Agbie as rent and electricity bill of the time when they lived together," said a police officer.

At around 10 pm, the two men met near Balaji Restaurant. "Agbie came with a friend, and asked Okfor to come to their house in the neighbourhood," the officer added.

According to the police, Agbie allegedly confined Okfor and beat him. After a while, Okfor went to a hospital and later complained to the local police station. A case of wrongful restraint and voluntarily causing grievous hurt has been registered at the Neb Sarai police station. Okfor has been staying at Krishna Park for the past one year.

Agbie and his friend have been arrested.

New Delhi, March 25
A 50-year-old man was murdered allegedly by his son in east Delhi on Monday after he made his daughter-in-law go back to her parental home.

The 22-year-old accused was furious due to his father's continual taunts over his unemployment and refusal to call his wife back, police said on Tuesday.

The deceased has been identified as Rajkumar, who lived with his wife Kusum and son Deepak in New Sanjay Amar Colony. The couple's other son is presently lodged at Tihar Jail.

According to the police, Rajkumar was found dead by his wife at around 8 pm on Monday. He had partial paralysis in his hand due to which he had not been working for the past two years. As Deepak was also unemployed, Kusum was forced to work as a domestic help in Krishna Nagar.

As per her daily routine, Kusum left home around 11.30 am and returned at 8 pm. "When Kusum returned, she saw the main door of the house bolted from outside," a police officer said. Inside, she was shocked to see Rajkumar lying dead on bed. "Rajkumar's throat had been slit," the officer added.

Investigating officers questioned the family members and neighbours during which it was revealed that Deepak had recently threatened to kill his father. "On questioning, Deepak refused his involvement though he could not explain the reason for bloodstains found on his trousers and footwear," the officer said.

On sustained interrogation, Deepak told the police that he killed his father as they had often exchanged arguments. Rajkumar used to advise Deepak's wife to leave him as he was unemployed.

Probe has revealed that Deepak took the help of a man named Tota Ram to eliminate his father. A case of murder has been filed over Kusum's statement to the Farsh Bazar police station.

New Delhi, March 25
A court here Tuesday extended, till April 7, the judicial custody of the four people allegedly involved in Arunachal Pradesh student Nido Tania killing case.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Pritam Singh extended the custody of accused Pawan, Sunder, Sunny Uppal and Farman for the next 14 days after they were produced before it.

The four were arrested February and booked under the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act for passing racist remarks against Tania.

Tania, 19, died in hospital Jan 30, a day after being beaten up by several shopkeepers in south Delhi's Lajpat Nagar area Jan 29 following an argument over his appearance and clothing.

The case was transferred to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) from Delhi Police for further investigation after the victim's parents met Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, demanding speedy justice for Tania.

They had alleged police negligence in the case and also demanded action against the guilty policemen.

Meanwhile, Sunny filed his bail application in the court of Additional Sessions Judge Jitendera Mishra, who posted it for hearing on April 7. — IANS

New Delhi, March 25
Police today claimed to have busted a gang of criminals by arresting its two members.

According to police, Kapil (31) and Joginder (24) were wanted in several cases.

Police said they got information that the duo were entering Delhi through Dhansa Border in the wee hours of March 21.

"Acting on tip-off, police laid a trap at Dhansa border and arrested them. Police recovered a pistol, two live cartridges and a car from their possession", said a senior police officer. — PTI