New Delhi, June 18
At a time when another round of the assembly elections looks imminent in Delhi, the allegations levelled by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) against the BJP of indulging in horse-trading today again rocked the national Capital which continues to be in suspended animation.

However, the BJP rubbished all the claims while amid all this drama, the Congress favoured re-election, expressing hope of bouncing back in the elections.

The AAP today condemned the BJP alleging that the saffron party is engaging intermediaries, including a Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader, in an attempt to break away AAP legislators, asking them to support the BJP for government formation.

Demanding fresh elections in Delhi, the AAP questioned why the BJP is shying away from dissolution of the assembly and declaring elections.

This was part of the resolutions passed by the AAP during a meeting attended by its MLAs, candidates who contested unsuccessfully, Vidhan Sabha coordinators and observers and chaired by party's national convener Arvind Kejriwal, political affairs committee (PAC) members Kumar Vishwas, Gopal Rai and others, here today.

"A leader of the SAD and a person who identified himself as a Supreme Court lawyer and an active BJP member have been instrumental in this. They have failed," said the AAP MLA from Rohini, Rajesh Garg, who alleged that he was approached by some BJP members thrice for the past three days to leave the party.

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said, "All the allegations are rubbish and the party's stand remains the same as no other option is available."

On his part, SAD leader and DSGMC general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa refuted the claims, saying, "I or my party have not approached any AAP member for supporting the government formation. The charges are baseless."

While senior leader and PAC member Gopal Rai said the AAP wants fresh elections and Narendra Modi's men should stop this low-level politics.

Meanwhile, Congress senior leader Jitender Kochar said, "The BJP had assured people of Delhi that electricity rate would be cut down by 30 per cent, but people are now feeling the heat and realising that at least in the city, they did not suffer power crisis and price rise to this extent."

Noting that the Congress will benefit in the elections and the BJP's graph is bound to dip, he added, "The Congress favours re-elections and the way the BJP is trying to deflect AAP legislators, it is certain that they know they would not win."

New Delhi, June 18
A 28-year-old man allegedly shot his wife, father-in-law, brother-in-law and then himself this afternoon at Bhakhtiyarpur Garhi village in outer Delhi's Alipur area.

Sohan Pal (30) had arrived at the village from his home at Barola village in Sector-49, Noida. He reached the Bhakhtiyarpur Garhi village to visit his wife, Poonam (28), who was attending her brother Tarun Singh's wedding. Tarun was to be married on Thursday evening.

Sohan called his wife to a secluded spot, about half a kilometre away from the wedding venue this afternoon. He allegedly shot his wife and then his brother-in-law who drove her to the spot in an Esteem car, according to Poonam's family.

Sohan had two pistols. He drove his Santro car to his in-laws' house, where he allegedly shot his father-in-law, Bhopal Singh. He then began searching for his mother-in-law whom he could not find.

"Sohan came inside the house with two pistols in his hands and called out Rajo (mother-in-law). She was busy and took a minute to come out of her room. The drawing room was crowded with women relatives who had come for the wedding and they tried to confront Sohan. He panicked and right in front of our eyes, he placed the weapons on both sides of his head and shot himself dead," said one of the relatives of the family.

Police officers investigating the case said the motive behind the incident is yet to be ascertained. They suspect that dowry demand could be a motive.

"Poonam had often complained to her family that she was regularly beaten by her husband as his demands for dowry were not fulfilled. The couple were married four years ago and have a three-year-old son. According to Poonam's family, Sohan would pressurise her for gifts," said a police officer.

New Delhi, June 18
Amid apprehension of a hike in prices, Lt Governor Najeeb Jung today instructed the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) to purchase onions on behalf of the Delhi government to create a stock of the vegetable.

The Managing Director of NAFED assured Jung that they have the infrastructure to store, transport and preserve onions, the LG House officials said.

NAFED can store up to 300-400 tonnes of onions and can increase its capacity further, they said. NAFED is also exploring to buy potatoes for the government.

Jung today took stock of the current wholesale and retail prices of onions and potatoes in Delhi and initiated a number of steps to check any subsequent rise in their prices.

He directed SAFAL outlets all across Delhi to double the stock and sale of onions and potatoes. SAFAL would stock and sell approximately 120 metric tonnes of onions and potatoes through its 380 retail outlets as soon as the stock is made available to it, the officials said.

According to LG House officials, the Commissioner (Food and Civil Supplies) has also been instructed to operate 60-70 mobile vans all across Delhi, where the sale of onions and potatoes will take place at the rates decided by the government.

Further, Jung directed the Chief Secretary to write to the Department of Consumer Affairs to issue orders on stock limits to prevent hoarding. The Delhi Agricultural Marketing Board has also been asked to issue daily advertisements in newspapers to keep people informed about the daily rates of onions and potatoes.

New Delhi, June 18
The redevelopment project of Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk precincts was reviewed by Lt Governor Najeeb Jung along with Member of Parliament of the Chandni Chowk constituency Harsh Vardhan in a meeting held today.

Presentations were made by MD of the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation and Secretary of the Public Works Department.

The meeting stressed fast-tracking the projects and suggested three monthly visits to review the progress of work.

The Chandni Chowk redevelopment plan from Red Fort to Fatehpuri Masjid Road intends to create a pedestrian-friendly environment, with seamless non-motor vehicle linkage to Shahjahanabad and peripheral areas such as railway stations and Metro stops, introduction of Modern Tram system in Chandni Chowk and its linkage to railway station and Jama Masjid. This will involve undergrounding of all overhead services, relocation of transformers, etc.

Post the Delhi High Court direction to develop "a comprehensive plan for redevelopment" of the Jama Masjid and its surrounding areas, the Municipal Corporation was appointed as a nodal agency to coordinate the redevelopment plan. The plan aims to create an environment contemporary in concept and use, but befitting the heritage and historic nature of this place. These recommendations include a new physical plan, incorporating modifications in land use, built fabric, movement networks and parking, urban infrastructure services, rationalisation of spaces for commercial and other uses.

New Delhi, June 18
An e-sub registrar office was inaugurated today by Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung at Janak Puri in West Delhi.

The 11th e-sub registrar office will cater to Janak Puri and Basaidara Pur sub-divisions. The residents of Shadipur, Khampur Rai, Khyala, Chowkhandi, Kesho Pur, Basai Dara Pur, Nangli (Jalib), Hastsal, Raja Pur Khurd, Budhela, Posangi Pur, Asalat Pur Khadar, Matiala, Nawada Mazara, Hastasal, Tihar, Tatar Pur would also be benefited.

"In the present scenario, a person who wants to register a document has to deal with huge crowds, serpentine queues and lack of basic infrastructure like proper seating, drinking water and toilet facilities. Even after going through this ordeal, he has to make several rounds of the sub-registrar office and wait endlessly before the document is registered and delivered," the Lt. Governor said.

To put an end to this, the new system envisages a process in which each applicant arrives at the e-sub registrar office with an appointment, he said.

The appointment can be taken online by accessing the website of the Revenue Department.