New Delhi, November 23
The Delhi government has imposed a ban on purchase of new vehicles for all officials as part of an austerity measure, including those of civic bodies in the city, until the old ones complete their required life cycles.

The government order, issued recently, is applicable to all its departments, the three Municipal Corporations of Delhi (MCDs) and the New Delhi Municipal Council. As per the new move, officials are also not supposed to buy new vehicles costing up to Rs 4.75 lakh.

"Ban on purchase of new vehicles (including staff cars) will continue except against condemnation. If the old car has completed its required life, officials can then purchase new one, which costs up to Rs 4.75 lakh," said a senior government official.

The government's move comes after the Centre recently issued directions to all its ministries in this regard. "We have directed all officials of the state government to follow its new instructions strictly. The new move is being taken as a part of its austerity measures," he added.

The official also said new vehicle may be purchased only through directorate general of supplies and disposals rate contract mode, adding that during buying cars, it may be considered on the model base and parameters like fuel economy, eco-friendliness, among others.

The government recently also announced expenditure ceiling for its official meetings and lunches and even has set a limit on the amount of fuel consumption for vehicles. The government had recently fixed 200 liters of fuel per vehicle and fixed an expenditure ceiling for an inaugural function at Rs 10,000.

Besides, a department can spend Rs 300 on working lunch during meeting and conference with a ceiling of Rs 10,000 per occasion.

New Delhi, November 23
In a bid to increase its volunteer base, the Aam Aadmi Party's student wing Chattra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS) has launched an initiative to enrol students in view of the forthcoming Delhi Assembly polls. It wants to engage students in campaign for the AAP.

"Vacation for Nation" campaign targets to reach out to students in universities and colleges in the city and is currently underway in Delhi University and its affiliated colleges, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jamia Milia Islamia, and Indraprastha University since early this month.

"It is an innovative campaign and is receiving a great response in all the major universities of the national Capital," said Sarita Devi, CYSS president.

The party is also targeting aspiring Union Public Service Commission exams and Chartered Accountancy and many who are currently preparing for the exams are said to have joined the campaign.

The party said, 300 UPSC candidates and 150 CA students have already signed up.

The party is actively looking for such students in Mukherjee Nagar, Ber Sarai and Jia Sarai areas where civil services aspirants generally reside along with the Laxmi Nagar area where those appearing for their CA exams stay.

So far, close to 4,000 students have confirmed their participation for the campaign, said the AAP, adding that, among these, 1,500 are from DU, 450 from JNU, 250 from Jamia and 150 from IP university. Besides, the CYSS has also received 1,210 online entries.

The party stated that students can work for the party after their exams get over by mid-December and the CYSS will continue the programme in January too. The main focus will be on increasing participation of students and youth in politics and to highlight issues that concern them. This will enable them to elect a responsive and honest government, said the party spokesperson.

"Volunteers will compare the election manifestoes of all major political parties contesting the Delhi elections and will tell voters which party has given preference to the demands of the students and youth. They will help in the party's social media and door-to-door campaigns too," stated the spokesperson.

It is worth remembering that students have played a crucial role in the AAP's rise and last assembly polls in Delhi and in the general elections.

But it was following internal conflicts within the AAP and top leaders quitting it being unhappy with the party's functioning and lack of internal democracy that the young voters had started withdrawing.

New Delhi, November 23
The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) has demanded from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for changing the name of Aurangzeb Road in Delhi after ninth Guru Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib.

DSGMC president Manjit Singh GK asked Modi that the Sikh community across the globe wants this and naming road after the ninth guru would be a befitting tribute to the guru who chooses to lay his life for the cause of humanity.

Guru Tegh Bahadur was martyred in Chandni Chownk on the orders of then Mughal ruler Aurangzeb in November 1675. Guru's martyrdom day falls on November 24, Monday.

"The martyrdom day be declared a gazetted holiday across the country, so that message of universal brotherhood given by the guru reaches every corner of the country.

“With the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance leading the Government of India aspirations of the Sikh community would be fulfiled," said Manjit Singh GK.

A petition is also being signed online for declaring the road name of guru's name.

The DSGMC has also written a letter to Modi for making announcement of declaring a gazetted holiday to mark the martyrdom day and renaming of the Aurangzeb Road after the ninth guru.

In the letter the DSGMC president said the supreme sacrifice of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib binds the society of present day India must be paid a tribute so that the Sikh community gets a clear message that the present set up in the Government of India belongs to them.

"Guru Sahib is a symbol of communal harmony, he does not represent one religion but he is a symbol of universal peace hood, and declaration of his martyrdom day a national gazetted holiday is everyone's demand and this day be celebrated as peace and harmony day," demanded DSGMC general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa.

New Delhi, November 23
With an eye on the upcoming Assembly polls in the national Capital, the Delhi unit of the Congress today alleged that the BJP was behind the "power scam" of people living in unauthorised and resettlement colonies being forced to increase their load capacity.

The allegation was made at a rally organised by the party at west Delhi where it also called for a probe into the "scam", saying it was a ruse to collect thousands of crores of rupees in an illegal manner and the power companies were being protected by the BJP.

"Moves are again afoot to increase the power tariff by 14 per cent after the Delhi Assembly elections, and the BJP has given instructions to the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission to be in full preparation for this step," the party alleged in a statement issued here.

The rally was held under the leadership of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar and party spokesperson Mukesh Sharma who said that during their party's rule in Delhi, a lot of development work had been carried out in unauthorised colonies.

The release also said the people who attended the rally resolved not to pay the allegedly "inflated" water bills they were getting.

While addressing the rally, Kumar said houses built on 50 sq m plots were "getting water bills ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 54,000" and appealed to the people to not pay the bills, the release said. — PTI

New Delhi, November 23
The traffic movement in the city is expected to be affected tomorrow mostly in New Delhi and Central Delhi, besides several arterial roads, due to a procession to commemorate the martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur.

The procession will begin at 9.30 am from Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Chandni Chowk and is expected to terminate at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib around 11 pm, Delhi Traffic Police said in an advisory.

People have also been advised to make maximum use of public transportation to avoid congestion of roads. Terminating points of several city buses plying on the roads on which the procession will move have been changed.

The procession will move through Nai Sarak, Chawri Bazar, Hauz Qazi, Ajmeri Gate, Paharganj Bridge, Desh Bandu Gupta Road, Choona Mandi, Panchkuian Road, Bangla Sahib Marg, Kali Bari Marg, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, Gole Dak Khana, Pt Pant Marg and will terminate at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib.

There will be diversions at Subhash Marg Crossing, HC Sen Marg, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Marg, Town Hall, Naya Bans Road, Sita Ram Bazar, Asaf Ali Road, Barshbullah, Ajmeri Gate, DBG Road-Shiela Cinema, Chowk Pahar Ganj, Chelmsford/Basant Road, Punchkuian/Basant Road, roundabout of Panchkuian Road and Minto Road, the traffic advisory stated.

Buses going to Desh Bandhu Gupta Road and New Delhi Railway Station will terminate at Jhandewalan roundabout, while those towards Minto Road and DDU Marg, will end at the Shivaji statue.

No commercial vehicles will be allowed on Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg till the tail of the procession reaches Choona Mandi, it stated.

Plying of commercial vehicles will also be restricted on Ring Road between Ashram Chowk to Chandgi Ram Akhara, Subash Marg, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Marg, Naya Bazar and Desh Bandhu Gupta Road.

Commuters going to New Delhi or Old Delhi Railway stations or ISBT have been advised to leave in advance by keeping sufficient time in view of possible delays.

Vehicles approaching north Delhi from south Delhi shall take Ashram Chowk-Ring Road-Dhaula Kaun-Punjabi Bagh-Azad Pur and vice-versa for onward journey, according to the advisory.

Buses to Central Secretariat will terminate at Chitra Gupta Road and those bound for SP Marg, 11 Murti, Teen Murti Marg, Shanti Path and Panchsheel Marg will end at Teen Murti roundabout, the advisory states.

New Delhi, November 23
Thousands of people, including children, teenagers, middle-aged men and women, today braved the cold and foggy morning to run for Airtel Delhi Half Marathon, which saw an increase in women runners by 25 per cent.

Over 31,000 participants and a host of celebrities from the field of sports and entertainment thronged Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to participate in the marathon.

"There has been a 25 per cent increase in the number of women participants. And even for the half marathon, the people registered are a 12,000-plus. So, I think it is definitely India stepping forward as each city is getting more fitness conscious.

“They want to be healthy, and they want to be fit. And yes, there is a keen interest in all kinds of sports," said Bipasha Basu, Bollywood actress.

The celebrity list of the Delhi marathon includes both film actors and sportsperson.

While business tycoon Anil Ambani and Bollywood actors Rahul Bose and Gul Panag made their presence felt by participating in the race, sidelined Indian cricket team left-handed opener Gautam Gambhir, 2004 Olympic silver medallist shooter-turned-politician Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and face of the event Bipasha Basu motivated Delhiites to put on their running shoes and participate in the running fiesta.

Among other dignitaries present at the event were Union Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, event ambassador and women's marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe and Tollywood actor Jeet. Sports Secretary Ajit M. Sharan also attended the event.

Actors Rahul Bose, who actively participates at such events, shared on Twitter that he clocked his personal best, "2 hours 3 minutes" at the marathon. He even later posed with marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe.

"A great run today! Incredible energy on the course. So many determined runners pursuing their dream.

Winners, each one of us," said actress Gul Panag at twitter.