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IRS officer, two others acquitted in graft case

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 30 November 2014 | 22.10

NEW DELHI: An Indian Revenue Service officer and two others, including a personal assistant to the then minister of state for finance, have been acquitted by a Special CBI court after it found major discrepancies in the evidence produced by CBI in the 2003 corruption case.

Special CBI Judge Swarana Kanta Sharma acquitted Anurag Vardhan, a 1994 batch IRS officer, R Perumal Samy, who was working as a PA to the then minister and A Krishnamurthy, a chartered accountant based in Chennai, observing that the CBI has not been able to prove the charges against them.

The CBI had chargesheeted them claiming that in 2003 Vardhan, who was posted in Delhi at the time, struck a deal with the others to pay Rs 4 lakh as bribe for his transfer to Mumbai.

"I am of the opinion that the electronic evidence in this case has not been proved as per mandate of law and therefore is inadmissible in evidence," the court said. It also said there were other major contradictions and discrepancies in the oral testimony of the witnesses and the documentary evidence, shaking the very foundation of prosecution's case.

The CBI had alleged that Vardhan had contacted Krishnamurthy, who had told him to pay Rs 4 lakh to Samy to be transferred to Mumbai. The agency claimed that on April 22, 2003, when Vardhan agreed to pay the bribe to Samy through Krishnamurthy, a team reached outside his house and nabbed

Perumal Samy and Padmanabhan when they were leaving the premises with the money. Samy told police he got the cash from Vardhan. During the trial, all the accused denied the allegations leveled against them.

During the arguments, advocate P K Dubey, appearing for Vardhan, told the court there were major contradictions in the statements of the witnesses.

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Anti-clockwise is what ticks for Gonds


BHOPAL: Clocks of thousands of Madhya Pradesh residents run anti-clockwise. It may sound bizarre to many but for Gonds of the state it is perfectly normal and scientific.

Why do athletes run anti-clockwise on the track? "It is in tandem with nature, running clockwise is not suitable," says Gondvana Mahasabha president S S Ahaake adding, "It is also scientific".

"Our clocks are not manufactured so but are modified. We get them modified by local mechanics. We have got our own design for dials," said Gulzar Singh Markam, national vice-president of Gondvana Gantantra Party (GGP).

GGP is popular in several districts of east and south-eastern parts of the state where a siezable Gond tribe is predominant.

These watches are popular among locals and are called, 'Gondi Ghadi', and are used by Gonds in Mandla, Jabalpur, Chhindwara, Seoni, Balaghat, Raisen and some other districts. It is popular mainly among the educated Gonds.

"It is basically associated with the philosophy of Gondvana. Several people have used various methods for establishing the ideals of Gondvana or the natural way of life and this anti-clockwise clock is one of many such attempts made around two decades ago," Markam says.

Gond tribals believe their deity, 'Bada Dev', is creator of universe and it is due to his powers that all the planets revolve in anti-clockwise direction around 'Bada Dev'.

"All our rituals like farmers ploughing their fields, the 'feras' taken during marriage and cyclones have an anti-clockwise movement. Since, Gond philosophy is close to nature the watch has been modified that way," Markam told TOI.

The entire concept is just an ideological revolution and is purely non-commercial, says Ahaake.

"We also take this clock to national fairs like Kachargarh Mela, Amarkantak Mela organized by the community and other such gatherings," he said.

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Day after HC order, parents confused about nursery admission

NEW DELHI: What Friday's high court order on nursery admission and the government's decision to challenge it have precipitated is confusion. Told in September that the government was attempting to issue guidelines early, many parents are wondering what this renewed legal battle means for the admission schedule. The rest are girding up for prolonged stress and numerous delays.

"I can forecast a delayed admission process due to fresh litigations. There is no end to this problem," writes a parent on an online forum. Another asks, "Since the court order is out, how soon can we expect the schools to start the admission process? Do you think we will see more stay orders/court order in near future?" A third writes, "I believe most of us want to know what this decision means with respect to admission process and whether schools can commence admissions on their own or there would still be guidelines from DoE. If every school has to independently release its own guidelines, that would create unprecedented chaos." Lawyer-activist Khagesh Jha points out that, with the government going back to court against this order, delay is almost certain.

Many parents, though competing for seats in private schools, are with the government and believe a degree of control should be exercised over schools. "Ask owners of schools to buy their own land at market price. Then they should be allowed to do things as per their wish. If schools use government land, taken on lease at concessional rates, they must follow the government's rules and regulations," writes an angry parent.

The constant fuss over nursery admissions is even pushing exasperated parents to think about government institutions with some proposing to start a "movement" in support of government schools. "Let us support government schools and reject private schools. Let us say 'no' to such (private) schools and bring down demand [for them] to a large extent. Let us compel the government to start nursery class in government schools," writes a parent on online forum, admissionsnursery.com.

"After the court verdict, many parents are still confused about the calendar and whether DoE will still issue a broad framework. We are getting dozens of queries by mail. But most are not aware DoE won't issue any guidelines but appeal against the verdict," says Sumit Vohra of admissionsnursery.com.

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E-rickshaw drivers need no education for licence

NEW DELHI: Thousands of illiterate e-rickshaw drivers would soon be eligible to apply for driving licence simply by undergoing 10 days mandatory training on how to operate the vehicle.

In its bid to bring back the idling battery-operated three wheelers, road transport ministry has moved a Cabinet note seeking this relaxation in the Central Motor Vehicle Act, besides another provision to ease norms for getting a licence for this "transport vehicle".

TOI has learnt that while the ministry had earlier sought law ministry's concurrence to do away with any criteria for educational qualification to apply for a driving licence for e-rickshaw, the latter finally agreed to this with the provision of mandatory training. At present, one has to be at least Class-VIII pass to apply for a driving licence for a transport vehicle.

Sources said the relaxation has been sought considering the fact that though both e-rickshaw and e-cart have been included in the transport vehicle category, these vehicles will ply only on minor road stretches identified by local police and state transport departments. "Since the documents will specifically mention that the licence is only for e-rickshaw, they cannot use this to drive any other vehicle. The applicants will also have to pass the normal test to get driving licence," a government official said.

The other relaxation being sought is to allow the applicants to get licence even when they don't have a licence for light motor vehicle (LMV) such as car. At present, one can apply for a licence for a commercial vehicle only if he has a valid LMV licence for at least one year.

These existing two legal provisions have come in the way of Centre's push to regularize the idle e-rickshaws. Transport minister Nitin Gadkari has promised the e-rickshaw owners and drivers to bring the vehicle back on the roads at the earliest. BJP is trying hard to bring thousands of families dependent on these vehicles to its side just before the Delhi election.

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Expert panel suggests taxation to deal with vehicular emissions, new body to fast-track environmental clearances

NEW DELHI: In its recent report, TSR Subramanian Committee—formed by the ministry of environment, forests and climate change to review key environmental laws — has recommended a "revised system of taxation" to inhibit an increase in the number of vehicles, "entry fee" for certain parts of the city, upgrading the public transport system and other policies to keep vehicular emissions in check.

The committee, consisting of former environment secretary Viswanath Anand, retired Delhi high court judge A K Srivastav and former additional solicitor general K N Bhat, is headed by former cabinet secretary TSR Subramanian. The committee is being perceived with apprehension by many civil society organizations who think it may be making environmental regulations lenient. It is also being criticized for being "undemocratic" as for linear projects like transportation lines, gas pipelines, irrigation canals, transmission lines it suggests bypassing gramsabha's consent and clearance for those should be accorded priority it states. The report seems to have some pollution abating measures for cities but it is keen on getting projects in rural areas fast tracked.

The report recommends formation of National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and state environmental management authorities (SEMA) with expertise to clear projects. "Existing Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and corresponding state agencies would be subsumed in NEMA and SEMA respectively," the report suggests. The report also suggests constitution of Environment Reconstruction Fund as a public fund, which will be managed by NEMA and used for developing environmental infrastructure. ERF will receive funds from a variety of sources, including from water cess, air pollution cess, proposed vehicle pollution surcharge, proposed surcharge on units discharging effluents; environmental reconstruction cost from project proponents; fees for various services rendered by agencies including process fees etc.; as well as other levies, also including penalties and punitive fines on polluters and offenders.

The committee takes a very strict view on vehicular emissions and says that depending on just superior fuel emission norms may not help. "On discussion with National Environment Engineering Research Institute and other technical agencies, the committee understood that currently 65% to 70% of the air pollution in cities is attributable to motor vehicles...," the report states.

It has taken a guarded view on another controversial subject—genetically modified crops. The report cautioned the government on "mindless use of science and technology illustrated by referring to the potential for medium or long-term adverse affects through unprepared introduction of genetically modified (GM) food crops." The committee suggests that while other ministries may push for the introduction of GM crops, the ministry must play the "devil's advocate" and advise caution. It notes that Europe hasn't permitted field trials and in India small farmers and genetic biodiversity can be severely affected by GM crops.

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Another AAP MLA opts out, few may be dropped

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 08 November 2014 | 22.10

NEW DELHI: Two former AamAadmi Party MLAs have withdrawn from the race for fresh elections and the party is expected to axe maybe a few more who have underperformed. AAP has also asked Delhiites to approach it in case they have concrete evidence of corruption against any MLA.

Dr Harish Khanna, former MLA of Timarpur, cited personal reason while announcing on Thursday his decision not to contest polls. He also said he did not agree with some party policies. Initially, Rajesh Garg, former MLA from Rohini, had also declared that he would not contest.

"I developed certain issues with the party between May-June and decided then that I did not want to contest another election. The entire political system is to blame for this and I realized that a person like me could not survive in it. In fact, I was not too keen to contest even the first time but was persuaded to do so by senior members. At the time I was not happy with the unilateral way in which Arvind Kejriwal resigned from government. I raised this issue along with some others earlier in the year. However, this is an old issue and I am perfectly happy in the party. I am not leaving and will campaign for the new candidate from this constituency," Garg said.

Garg, one of the few AAP MLAs who was against the party's decision to demand dissolution of the assembly, announced his decision to not contest some months earlier. "I have been unable to fulfill the promises I made to the people. Despite so much effort, no project under the MLA funds was cleared. I do not think I will be able to work in such circumstances," said Garg.

While the party believes this is not a setback and a few MLAs might be replaced by the party itself, it has also asked Delhiites to help it monitor the work of each MLA. On Friday, it asked residents to give it feedback on the MLAs.

"The complaints received will be sent to the party's disciplinary committee and will be scrutinized threadbare based on the evidence. If a complaint is found to be credible and further probe is required, it will have a bearing on the party ticket of the candidate concerned for the forthcoming assembly elections," said a spokesperson.

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Most cases filed against traffic cops

NEW DELHI: Vigilance department records have shown that a maximum number of complaints were against traffic police personnel. Most of these pertain to cases of policemen overlooking flouting of traffic rules or asking for bribe.

In the past one year, legal or administrative action was taken against 32 police personnel by the vigilance department. Of the 23 cases in which legal action was initiated, nine were against traffic policemen.

Vigilance sleuths are currently probing an allegation against traffic police posted in northeast and outer Delhi for allowing autorickshaws to ply illegally with more than three passengers. A group of autorickshaw owners are plying their vehicles with multiple passengers on fixed routes, reportedly in connivance with traffic cops. They just have to paste coloured stickers on their windshields so that the traffic cops can identify them from a distance and let them go.

After receiving the complaint, vigilance officials reached the spot and found the auto drivers keep changing the colour of the stickers and inform the traffic cops on duty about this. The stickers often have photographs of goddesses or advertisements on them. A team is probing the role of traffic police officials on duty on these stretches. "We are in the process of registering an FIR since a probe has shown laxity on part of the traffic officials but no one has been charged as of now," said a senior police official.

A probe is also on to prove allegations against cops posted at border barricades that they let vehicles pass without requisite documents past midnight. A senior police official said tendency among traffic officials to indulge in corruption is high since they deal with the public directly and collect fines on the spot.

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Delhi Dialogue to focus on infrastructure plans

NEW DELHI: In keeping with the shift in AamAadmi Party's focus from swaraj to infrastructure development, the party is set to launch Delhi Dialogue—an interactive initiative to draw up a blueprint for Delhi—next week.

A series of about six-seven meetings will involve Delhiites in forming a vision document for Delhi. On November 15, the first such meeting where matters concerning the youth will be discussed, will be organized at Jantar Mantar.

For the past few months, the party has been in touch with experts, professionals and NGOs on various issues like infrastructure development, affordable housing, safety of women, employment for youth etc and has a draft of its vision document ready. Along with the meetings with residents, roundtable conferences will be held where more experts will be called.

Ashish Khetan, a party spokesperson who is handling the Delhi Dialogue programme, said the party was looking for out-of-the-box solutions to problems plaguing Delhi, which include employment, water, sewage and waste management. "We have a draft blueprint ready and in the meetings with residents, we will showcase the big ideas that we have received so far. To change the city for the better, we need to involve residents and will take their suggestions," he said.

By next week, the party will announce the schedule for the remaining meetings, one of which will be based on women's issues including equal opportunity and safety. experts will be invited to join the discussions from all across the country. "We are looking for experts, irrespective of political ideology," said Khetan. The party's manifesto for the election will incorporate major points from this document.

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BJP man threatens South Corporation inspector

NEW DELHI: BJPcouncillor from Janakpuri, AshishSood, was in the eye of a storm on Friday after an inspector with South Corporation's West Zone remunerative projects cell (RP cell) circulated an audio clip in which Sood threatens to harm him for removing a unipole used for outdoor advertising.

Sood, who is also BJP's Delhi unit general secretary, repeatedly threatens to beat up the inspector in his office and throw him off a roof if he even touches his unipole. He tells the inspector to either remove all the illegal unipoles in the area or leave his alone. The inspector had recorded the clip.

Sood apologized for the threatening language but did not deny the voice was his. "I'm sorry for abusing but the official is at fault." In his defence, he said he wasn't seeking a favour nor doing anything corrupt. "I said officials should take uniform action and not target just one. South Corporation has already charged Rs 1.5 lakh for this unipole and suddenly these officials have realized that its existence isn't legal. Senior officials have told me that if the corporation has signed a contract and charged money for a unipole, it cannot be removed. In fact, the official was being corrupt."

In the recording, the inspector tells Sood that he has to take action as a public notice has been issued against the site. But till Friday evening, no formal complaint had been made to police and South Corporation commissioner Manish Gupta. "I have heard about it but there is no formal complaint. I cannot comment on it," Gupta said.

Subhash Arya, leader of the House, said BJP councillors support Sood and he hasn't done anything to shame the civic body or the party.
But corporation officials said the recording proves they are not allowed to work.

"Councillors accuse us of not working but the truth is that when we go out to take action, they threaten us," said a senior South Corporation official.

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Trafficked girl rescued, 3 arrested

NEW DELHI: A 19-year-old trafficked girl from Bangladesh was rescued from Govindpuri on Thursday night.

Police said the girl was brought to the city by two men who promised to get her a job but sold her to a woman who ran a flesh trade racket. Three people, including the woman were arrested. Police said they got information about a girl being held captive at a flat in Tughlaqabad extension. Locals said they had seen her crying and calling for help from the balcony of the house.

The girl was found after police conducted a raid on the house. She was then given counselling by an NGO, during which she revealed that she was beaten up by the traffickers. Police said that based on her statement the two men, Bhola and Mintu, and the woman, Deepti, were identified and arrested. A case under Section 373 IPC (buying a minor for purposes of prostitution) and human trafficking has been registered.

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In a city accustomed to seeing the dead, bodies remain unknown and unclaimed

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 07 November 2014 | 22.10

NEW DELHI: The most lost of the lost people of Delhi end up here, in a cold metal-sided room at the Sabzi Mandi mortuary. They are lying on every available surface, including the blood-smeared floor, some with body parts flung out in the position of their death, protruding from the white plastic bags that are used to store them.

The smooth, sharp curve of a man's naked hip, all bone and no flesh. A jaw, with teeth. Hands folded over an abdomen as if at rest, or extended in some last intercepted expression of feeling.

In a corner, the bodies are crowded together on the floor. The mortuary attendants say it is so difficult to procure supplies as basic as disinfectant from the government that workers bring soap from home so that they can wash their hands after handling the bodies, many of which are infected with tuberculosis. So it would be unrealistic for the unidentified dead to expect a metal shelf of their own.

"You'll find them one on top of the other," said the mortuary's chief doctor, LC Gupta. "Where are we supposed to put them?"

On average, the police in this city register the discovery of more than 3,000 unidentifiable bodies a year — unidentifiable not because they are unrecognizable, but because they carry no documents and there is no one who knows them.

It is an extraordinary number. New York City buries as many as 1,500 homeless or poor people in trenches in its potter's field on Hart Island every year, but of those, according to an official from the medical examiner's office who recently spoke to the NY1 news channel, the number who remain unidentified averages around 50.

In Delhi, one regularly encounters the unknown dead: By law, photographs of their corpses must be published in newspapers and posted in police stations, under the Dickensian heading "Hue and Cry Notice." Protocol requires the mortuary to hold each body for 72 hours so that relatives have a chance to spot the announcements and claim the dead, but Dr Gupta said they rarely do.

"Nobody reads them," he said. Police officers are also expected to investigate. Asked about this, Dr. Gupta gave a small, dry smile. "They may or may not try," he said.

This is no city for the poor. Drive around New Delhi at night, and great numbers of men, women and children can be seen curled up on the sidewalks sleeping, or trying to sleep. These people — "pavement dwellers," they are called — figure in occasional newspaper articles about drunken drivers whose vehicles jump the curb and plow into a row of sleepers.

The most desperate gather around temples, where observant Hindus are encouraged to distribute food to the poor after a death in the family. Mohammad Yamin, an investigating officer at the Kashmere Gate police station, said families often abandoned terminally ill relatives at the nearby Hanuman temple because they are unable to get them admitted to government hospitals.

But most of the unclaimed dead appear to come from another group: men from distant villages, sent to the city in their teens or 20s to earn money as rickshaw drivers or casual laborers, and broken down by harsh conditions and brutal extremes of temperature. Harsh Mander, a social worker and activist who led a 2010 analysis of unidentified bodies in Delhi, found that the average age of men who died alone here — it is almost always men — was around 42.

Police records offer the vaguest of explanations. Most often, the cause of death is given as "natural," but others are marked as "illness/weakness," "due to hunger or thirst," "due to extreme cold or heat," "accident," "tuberculosis," "suicide," or, peculiarly, "beggar type."

The police usually find the bodies around the railway tracks or on the side of the road. Often the bodies are entirely naked. If a police officer, for some reason, makes a sincere attempt to discover the identity of a body he has found, Yamin said, he will swiftly find himself overwhelmed in the days that follow, as the number of unknown bodies in his custody mounts.

Once, Yamin managed to discover the identity of a man whose corpse he had found and took it all the way to the man's native village, where his uncles still lived. They gave him a two-line response: "He sold off his home and his belongings many years ago, as a young boy, and his parents are no more. You can do what you deem fit with his body."

All this is a familiar story for the mortuary workers, and they do not find it especially tragic. Dr Gupta recalled, with distaste, going to the Hanuman temple to distribute 50-rupee notes — about 80 cents — after his brother's death, and being rushed by so many beggars that he needed to be rescued by the police. On the streets, he said, men become addicted to drugs and engage in gay sex, rendering them "useless to society."

"They are of worse nature, and it is their karma," he said. "They do not want to help themselves."

One of his workers, Purushottam, vigorously agreed. He recalled that for a time he would buy bananas every day to distribute to the "vagabonds," as he called them. But then he was rebuked by police officers, who told him the men were selling his bananas at the market and using the money to buy drugs. "So we stopped feeding them," he said.

"We feed the birds instead," said Parveen Sharma, another mortuary worker. "At least we know they will eat the food."

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To halt AAP, BJP will woo Muslims

NEW DELHI: Ahead of assembly elections, Delhi BJP plans to reach out to the city's Muslims who are seen as a Congress vote bank. As part of its membership drive, the party will organize special programmes in Muslim dominated areas, including riot-hit Trilokpuri and communally sensitive Bawana and Okhla, starting from November 12 to tell people about its development agenda.

Ever since Congress' rout in Delhi, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has been trying hard to win over the minority community . Such a swing would hamper BJP's chances in Delhi. In the 2013 elections, Congress had won four of the six constituencies with a strong Muslim representation. BJP is trying to prevent AAP from making inroads there by harping on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's development agenda. It also plans to tell people about AAP's failures during its 49 days in government.

"We want the Muslim community to know about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision. We want people to know that BJP stands for development,'' said Atif Rasheed, head of Delhi BJP's minority cell. "In our membership drive we will tell people about the prompt response of the central government and the Delhi administration in controlling the Trilokpuri riots and defusing tension in other communally charged areas."

READ ALSO: BJP not to project CM candidate in Delhi

The membership drive will be carried out in areas like Trilokpuri, Mustafabad, Okhla and Seelampur, among others.

BJP's minority cell has been working hard to connect with Muslims since the 2013 assembly elections. Rasheed says there has been a change in perception, proved by the increase in BJP's vote share in Muslim majority areas. "In Okhla, BJP got 22,000 votes in the assembly elections and 39,000 in the Lok Sabha elections. It is clear that people voted for development.''

READ ALSO: Fresh elections in Delhi as BJP says it can't form govt

BJP members say their party workers helped Delhi Police defuse tension in Trilokpuri.

"The AAP MLA was nowhere to be seen when riots erupted in Trilokpuri," said Virendra Sachdeva, president of Delhi BJP's Mayur Vihar district."Everyone will benefit from our development agenda. As for AAP, we will tell people about what they did," Sachdeva added.

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Levels Club and Lounge

Crooners and rock enthusiasts in Gurgaon were seen enjoying themselves when Eka performed at Levels Club and Lounge, recently.

The band, which boasts of belonging to a unique rock genre - swatantra rock - made many headbang to their music.

"Join in the fun as the best in live entertainment perform here. This month has many more such acts lined up at Levels," said Anshul Jain, MD of the outlet.

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ALMA spots young star giving birth to planets

NEW DELHI : Using the new ALMA observatory, astronomers have for the first time seen planets forming around a young star located about 450 light years from Earth. The star is only a million years old and shrouded in a cloud of gas and dust. The powerful ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array) located in the Atacama desert in Chile could pierce through the dust to get exquisite images of planets' birth.

"This new and unexpected result provides an incredible view of the process of planet formation. Such clarity is essential to understand how our own Solar System came to be and how planets form throughout the Universe," said Tony Beasley, director of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) in Charlottesville, Virginia, which manages ALMA operations for astronomers in North America.

HL Tau is a Sun-like star located in the constellation Taurus. ALMA uncovered never-before-seen features, including multiple concentric rings separated by clearly defined gaps. These structures suggest that planet formation is already well underway around this remarkably young star.

All stars are believed to form within clouds of gas and dust that collapse under gravity. Over time, the surrounding dust particles stick together, growing into sand, pebbles, and larger-size rocks, which eventually settle into a thin protoplanetary disk where asteroids, comets, and planets form.

"These features are almost certainly the result of young planet-like bodies that are being formed in the disk. This is surprising since HL Tau is no more than a million years old and such young stars are not expected to have large planetary bodies capable of producing the structures we see in this image," said ALMA Deputy Director Stuartt Corder.

ALMA's power is achieved by spacing the antennas up to 15 kilometers apart. This gives the telescope enough resolution to see a penny placed more than 110 kilometers away. Future observations at ALMA's longest possible baseline of 16 kilometers will produce even clearer images and continue to expand our understanding of the cosmos.

"ALMA is delivering on its enormous potential for revealing the distant Universe and is playing a unique and transformational role in astronomy," said Fleming Crim, the National Science Foundation assistant director for Mathematical and Physical Sciences.

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Delhi BJP prepare blueprint for campaigning

NEW DELHI: Eyeing assembly elections, Delhi BJP has prepared a blueprint of its campaigning strategy which will especially focus on youths, RWAs, traders, social and digital media.

According to BJP leaders, party has also decided to take the help of FM radio and approach colleges, universties, malls, coffee shops to reach out to voters, especially youths.

Party is also planning to use live media according to which LCD screens strategically will be placed in restaurants, malls, coffee shops and other public places.

Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay said that a meeting to discuss plans of election campaigning has been scheduled on November 11 wherein office bearers of all district units will be present.

"We have asked our all morchas to be active ahead of Delhi Assembly elections. To reach out to people, party will approach RWAs, traders, unorganised sectors, FM Radio, colleges, universties and coffee shops" Upadhyay said.

Party leaders said that in the last Delhi Assembly elections, Aam Aadmi Party had used radio ads to reach out to more people and also criticised BJP and the work of all three municipal corporations.

"In this Assembly elections, BJP will also give ads on FM Radio and apprise the people of work done by the Narendra Modi government and municipal corporations and will criticise AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal for leaving people in the lurch in February this year," said another party leader.

"We will also revamp party's website where we will also appeal to people to vote for us," Upadhyay added.

The Delhi BJP president said the party will also launch door-to-door campaign across the national capital and approach every house so that people could connect to the party.

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Teachers support MA English students, demand General Body Meeting

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 06 November 2014 | 22.10

NEW DELHI: Over 50 English teachers from colleges across Delhi University have signed a letter to the head of the department of English, Sumanyu Satpathy, expressing their "solidarity with the MA English students' demand for a wider discussion and dialogue regarding their complaint on pedagogical matters to the head of the department of English."

Over 200 students of the MA English programme had complained to Satpathy in September against three newly-recruited teachers. In their letter, they had complained about the standard of their lectures and the offensive statements that they allegedly made. Another group-led largely by students of history-had countered this saying it was an elaborate campaign against teachers recruited through reservation.

Early in October, the protesting students of the English department had asked the HoD to convene a general body meeting of students and teachers but had been refused. The English teachers' group-Joint Action Body-which came together during the struggle against semester system, believes the allegations of poor-quality lectures and counter allegations of caste bias in the department should be addressed openly on a democratic platform. "Any concerns about prejudice that have arisen in this context from various sides, demanding...fair, sensitive and serious attention, need to be made, responded to and discussed in a forum that enables all concerned to engage in a worthwhile, face-to-face debate... and come up with legitimate ways of redressal," says the letter, "a general body meeting of the MA teachers and students called by the HoD of English will provide such a forum for dialogue and will offer the appropriate space to discuss, and ratify the composition of the proposed student-faculty committee."

"A general body meeting will help for another reason as well," continues the letter, "It will reaffirm a transparent and democratic convention in the university at a time when the arbitrary functioning of the Delhi University administration has wrought immense confusion and despair. The students' complaints in particular are not disconnected from this larger breakdown of democratic functioning as evidenced by the dubious changes to ordinances concerning faculty selection procedures."

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DDA reports 5,484 acres of vacant land


NEW DELHI: A survey of DDA-administered land, conducted for the first time, has found 5,484 acres of vacant land in the city. It also by its vice-chairperson three months ago, has found 1,242 vacant plots.

The survey covered plots under various land uses-residential, commercial, industrial and recreational. Officials say the survey was o protect these plots from encroachment. DDA has also found out that 298 acres of its land are under litigation. The list of all vacant sites has been uploaded on its website.

The survey was conducted with the help of National Productivity Council and Geospatial Data Limited and they will be requested to get monthly real-time photographs of each plot to realize the ground situation. "We are in the process of getting monthly updates of the ground situation to facilitate effective monitoring and protection from encroachment," a DDA spokesperson said.

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AAP, BJP warm up for battle with tweets

NEW DELHI: They are yet to finalize election strategies but Aam Aadmi Party and BJP are already in a war of tweets. On Wednesday, AAP convener and former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal questioned BJP's performance in the municipal corporations over the past seven years, while Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay challenged AAP to list "seven good deeds" from its 49 days in government.

"We are fighting elections on performance of our 49 day govt whereas BJP just abusing us. Can BJP explain what did they do in 7 yrs in MCD (sic)?" Kejriwal tweeted, following up with re-tweets about BJP's poor performance in the corporations. But BJP, which is planning a 'positive' campaign, had only one question for Kejriwal. "They should tell us 7 good deeds they have done in 49 days," Upadhyay wrote on Delhi BJP's Twitter handle #DelhineedBJP.

"Did they try to solve any of the problems faced by people in Delhi? They had promised 700 litres of free water, but people are not getting it. Before questioning BJP, they should tell people seven things they have done for Delhi. During their 49-day-long stint in government, why didn't they release money to the corporations for development work? Congress never gave us money for development work, nor did AAP," said Upadhyay.

With its government at the Centre, BJP is going to tom-tom the Modi government's achievements in the past four months and the special schemes announced by it for Delhi. But AAP, which is trying to consolidate its vote bank in the city and reclaim the middle class, which it lost to BJP in the Lok Sabha elections, is trying to shift the focus back to local issues.

"In his speech on Tuesday, Satish Upadhyay said they will fight the election on the development plank. We are more than ready for it, but we challenge BJP to talk about development it is directly responsible for in Delhi. Why discuss what the Centre is doing? BJP has been leading MCD for seven years. Other than massive corruption, the corporation has failed to do much else. Why doesn't BJP explain what development MCD has been responsible for?" said an AAP member.

Upadhyay said, "We have been giving pension to nearly two lakh poor people. We have simplified the licence policy, introduced online sanctioning of building plans, online booking of community centres, regularized 5,000-odd contractual employees in both the corporation and NDMC". About AAP, he said, "Kejriwal has lost his political relevance in Delhi and his party organization is in disarray. This election will be held between development-oriented BJP and anarchist and opportunist parties".

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Garbage spread on street purposely before Delhi BJP chief and Shazia Ilmi participate in 'Clean India' campaign

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's much-hyped 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' has been reduced to a sham by his own party leaders in the national capital.

BJP has been left embarrassed after photographs have emerged of garbage being dumped purposely on a Delhi sidewalk for a photo opportunity featuring BJP Delhi unit chief Satish Upadhyay and former AAP leader Shazia Ilmi.

Some newspapers have carried photos of garbage being dumped minutes before Satish Upadhyay swept it clean with a broom outside India Islamic Cultural Centre (IICC) in Delhi on Wednesday as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

Delhi BJP chief, meanwhile, has defended his participation in the programme and has blamed the organizers for the fiasco.

"It was a programme of the Islamic Centre, I had just gone their for few minutes,organizers should have taken care of it," Satish Upadhyay said reacting to the criticism.

He went on to slam the orgainzers and said, " completely condemn this, cleanliness drive is to be taken seriously & everyone should do it honestly."

BJP spokesman Sambit Patra, speaking to Times Now, said the Delhi unit chief was at the event as a guest and was not responsible for the action of the over-enthusiastic organizers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan on October 2 and has roped in several celebrities across the country as part of his drive to clean the country.

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Garbage spread on street before Delhi BJP chief and Shazia Ilmi participate in 'Clean India' campaign

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's much-hyped 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' has been reduced to a sham by his own party leaders in the national capital.

BJP has been left embarrassed after photographs have emerged of garbage being dumped purposely on a Delhi sidewalk for a photo opportunity featuring BJP Delhi unit chief Satish Upadhyay and former AAP leader Shazia Ilmi.

Some newspapers have carried photos of garbage being dumped minutes before Satish Upadhyay swept it clean with a broom outside India Islamic Cultural Centre (IICC) in Delhi on Wednesday as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

Delhi BJP chief, meanwhile, has defended his participation in the programme and has blamed the organizers for the fiasco.

"It was a programme of the Islamic Centre, I had just gone their for few minutes,organizers should have taken care of it," Satish Upadhyay said reacting to the criticism.

He went on to slam the orgainzers and said, " completely condemn this, cleanliness drive is to be taken seriously & everyone should do it honestly."

BJP spokesman Sambit Patra, speaking to Times Now, said the Delhi unit chief was at the event as a guest and was not responsible for the action of the over-enthusiastic organizers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan on October 2 and has roped in several celebrities across the country as part of his drive to clean the country.

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Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad to upgrade its campus infrastructure for the handicapped

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 05 November 2014 | 22.10

NEW DELHI: Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad (MICA) has announced its plans to transform its campus into a disability-friendly one on Wednesday. The additions in the campus will comprise of facilities for special students who are studying at MICA. The first phase of work is likely to complete by Jan 2015.

To ensure an easy access, the whole campus area will be made disability-friendly. Significant additions will include ramps in all the buildings on campus, to facilitate easy access to the ground floors, including all the hostel blocks. The institute will also resurface all the walkways and pathways, which currently have brick-edge con-surfaces. These will be replaced with RCC finish or paving blocks to make them smoother. Thus, movement around the campus including the student's service area, the micafe plaza, parking areas etc. will be smoother and more accessible. There will also be an addition of a traction lift and hydraulic lifts in the buildings, which will allow quick access to the classrooms.

Commenting on the initiative, Nagesh Rao, president and director, MICA said: "We are glad to set up disability-friendly infrastructure at MICA. All the ramps, lifts, resurfacing of walkways and pathways will be positioned as per standard architectural norms. They will be technically and aesthetically sound, and will also enhance ease and access to the buildings for the students with disability."

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Delhi assembly dissolved, byelections cancelled

NEW DELHI: The Delhi assembly has been dissolved, it was announced on Wednesday, and the Election Commission cancelled byelections in three assembly constituencies in the capital.

The Election Commission had on October 25 announced that Mehrauli, Tughlakabad and Krishna Nagar would go to the polls on November 25. BJP legislators from the three places were elected to the Lok Sabha in May.

Delhi has been under President's rule since February 17 following the resignation of chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who headed a minority Aam Aadmi Party government for 49 days.

A Rashtrapati Bhawan spokesperson said the president has signed the proclamation dissolving the Delhi assembly.

The Union Cabinet on Tuesday recommended the dissolution of the 70-member Delhi assembly where no political party had enough numbers to form a stable government.

The decision was taken after leaders of the Bharatiya Janata party, AAP and the Congress told lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung that they wanted elections to end months of political uncertainty.

The Delhi election of December 2013 threw up a fractured mandate.

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Over 40% toilets not functional in 41 Delhi government schools

NEW DELHI: In addition to working out the student-toilet ratio in its schools, the Directorate of Education had also asked schools for "details regarding non-functional toilets." An internal memorandum lists 41 schools where more than 40% of the toilets "have been found to be non-functional."

On top of the list is the Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya at Radhey Shyam Park where not even a single toilet is functioning.

The memorandum asks the heads of these 41 schools to "explain why the toilets of their schools are still not functional despite repeated instructions from the DoE by appearing in person in the office of DDE Land & Estate (deputy director, education, land and estate." They'd been summoned on November 3. The memo also reminds the principals that they are "duty-bound to keep all the toilets in functional condition."

The maximum number of schools with non-functioning toilets are in east district (seven) followed by south-east (six); there are 13 school districts in total and schools in 11 feature in the list. It also features Seemapuri-SKV (Vishwamitra) where three kids had used acid left in the toilet instead of water in April this year. 17 of its 33 girls' toilets aren't functioning.

Not one of the 32 girls' toilets at Radhey Shyam Park-SBV is functioning. It could be argued that it's a boys' school but the situation is exactly the same for the 32 boys' toilets. Similarly, at the Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya in the same location, only two of 18 girls' toilets and one of the same number of boys' are in working condition.

While the situation isn't this bad in all the schools on the list, there are many where the number of non-functioning toilets is over half the total. Thirty-seven of 52 boys' toilets at Dilshad Garden (Block C -SBV) aren't working; neither are 18 of the 23 at No.2 Government Boys Secondary School at Jama Masjid, and 22 of 28 at Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar-SKV aren't usable.

Several single-sex schools have found themselves in the list, perhaps unfairly, for not having enough functioning toilets for the opposite sex - Government Girls' Senior Secondary School at Tulsi Nagar for instance. However, there are many schools under Delhi government that are single-gender on paper (and signboards) but are actually co-educational in practice.

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President dissolves Delhi assembly

NEW DELHI: President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday dissolved the Delhi assembly following a recommendation by the Union cabinet.

The President has signed the proclamation dissolving the Delhi assembly, a Rashtrapati Bhawan spokesperson said.

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Delhi assembly dissolved, bypolls cancelled

NEW DELHI: The Delhi assembly has been dissolved, it was announced on Wednesday, and the Election Commission cancelled bypolls in three assembly constituencies in the capital.

The Election Commission had October 25 announced that Mehrauli, Tughlakabad and Krishna Nagar would go to the polls November 25. BJP legislators from the three places were elected to the Lok Sabha in May.

Delhi has been under President's rule since Feb 17 following the resignation of chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who headed a minority Aam Aadmi Party government for 49 days.

A Rashtrapati Bhawan spokesperson said the president has signed the proclamation dissolving the Delhi assembly.

The union cabinet Tuesday recommended the dissolution of the 70-member Delhi assembly where no political party had enough numbers to form a stable government.

The decision was taken after leaders of the Bharatiya Janata party, AAP and the Congress told LG Najeeb Jung that they wanted elections to end months of political uncertainty.

The Delhi election of December 2013 threw up a fractured mandate.

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Delhi HC sets aside life-term verdict for rape and murder of 60-year-old woman

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 04 November 2014 | 22.10

NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court has set aside the life imprisonment awarded to a man for raping and killing a 60-year-old woman, whom he used to call his mother.

A division bench of justices Pradeep Nandrajog and Mukta Gupta set aside a trial court order which had awarded life term to Achey Lal for allegedly raping the woman while he was in an inebriated state, resulting in her death.

"It is proved beyond reasonable doubt from the postmortem report that the woman too had consumed alcohol before she was subjected to sexual intercourse.

"Achey Lal, even if held guilty for causing the offence of rape, cannot be held guilty of murder as he neither had any intention nor knowledge that such a forceful act of sexual intercourse would cause the death of the woman. Consequently, he is acquitted for the offence punishable under Section 302 IPC," the judge said.

The court, while allowing the appeal of Achey against his conviction and sentence, also acquitted him of the charges of rape saying, "As regards the offence punishable under Section 376 (rape) of the IPC, the woman was aged over 60 years, thus beyond the age of menopause.

"We find force in the contention of the counsel for the appellant (Achey) that even if the sexual intercourse was forceful, it was not forcible and contrary to the wishes and consent of the deceased.

"Hence we are of the opinion that it has not been proved beyond reasonable doubt that the appellant committed sexual intercourse with the deceased contrary to her wishes or her consent. Consequently he is also acquitted of the rape charge," the bench said.

The trial court had in 2011 awarded rigorous life term to Achey and also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on him saying, "he committed forceful sexual intercourse upon a lady older than his age whom he used to call his mother".

According to the prosecution, the woman, who was working as a domestic help in houses in Majnu Ka Tila locality in north-Delhi, was found dead at her residence in December 2010 and one empty bottle of whisky was found near her body.

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Union Cabinet approves LG's report for dissolution of Delhi assembly

NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet has accepted lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung's report recommending dissolution of the Delhi assembly, paving the way for holding of fresh polls in the national capital.

Earlier in the day, ending the eight-month-long political uncertainty, lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung had recommended to the President dissolution of the Delhi assembly as major players BJP, AAP and Congress have expressed "inability" to form government and preferred holding of polls.

Delhi has been under President's Rule since February after the AAP government quit after ruling for 49 days.

Welcoming the Cabinet's decision, Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay told Times Now that the party is ready for fresh elections.

"We will carry Haryana and Maharashtra's momentum to Delhi," Satish Upadhyay said. There is no lack of leadership in Delhi, we will fight Delhi assembly polls under collective leadership, he further added.

Sources in the lieutenant governor's office said Jung in his report to President Pranab Mukherjee mentioned that all three main political parties BJP, AAP and Congress expressed inability to form government and conveyed that they were ready to face fresh election.

With all the three main parties favouring fresh mandate, the LG recommended to the President dissolution of the assembly.

The LG held consultations on Monday with political parties in the wake of the Supreme Court putting the issue on the fast track and giving him time till November 11 to explore the possibility of forming a government.

The court was hearing AAP's petition seeking early dissolution of the assembly which has been under suspended animation since February after the fall of the AAP government.

Sources said the LG had offered BJP a chance to form government but the party declined saying it does not have the numbers. They said the decision not to accept an offer by the Lt Governor to take a shot at power was taken at a meeting of top central leaders of the party on Sunday.

The party felt it should go for polls as enthusiasm among the party workers has increased following victories in assembly elections in Maharashtra and Haryana.

The sources said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in favour of polls and that the RSS had also conveyed its view that the party should not form government adopting any "unfair means".

Currently BJP, along with ally Akali Dal's lone MLA, has 29 legislators and would have required support of five more MLAs to form a government and prove majority in the 67-member assembly.

BJP had emerged as the single largest party in the December assembly polls winning 31 seats but fell four seats short of a simple majority.

It had refused to form government then, saying it will not resort to any "unfair means" to take over the reins.

AAP had formed the government in Delhi with the support of Congress.

The government led by Kejriwal had resigned on February 14 after the party's pet project, the Janlokpal Bill, could not be passed due to opposition from BJP and Congress.

President's Rule was imposed on February 17. Jung had not favoured dissolution of the assembly as recommended by the council of ministers headed by Kejriwal and kept the assembly in suspended animation.

The LG had last month sent a report to the President seeking permission to invite BJP to form a government in Delhi.

The Centre last week informed the Supreme Court that the President allowed Jung to invite BJP.

Delhi BJP stressed that its stand on government formation has been clear since December last year that it would never engage in horse-trading to come to power in the national capital.

"BJP's stand on government formation in Delhi has been very clear since December 8, 2013, that it will never engage in horse-trading to form the government," said Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay.

After the results of the assembly polls in December last year, the then Delhi BJP chief Harsh Vardhan had declined to form a government, saying the party did not have the required numbers.

(With inputs from PTI)

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Muharram observed amid tight security in Delhi

NEW DELHI: Muharram was observed amid tight security in the national capital with heavy police deployment in sensitive areas including East Delhi's Trilokpuri and Outer Delhi's Bawana which have seen tensions in the recent days.

The festival is expected to remain subdued this time amid simmering tensions in some parts of the city.

Delhi Police Commando teams have been deployed along with local police, while Special Branch (Intelligence) is in touch with people of both the communities to avoid spread of rumours in sensitive areas.

Processions started in the morning from Shia Jama Masjid, Kashmere Gate, Chabi Ganj, Chhota Bazar, Bara Bazar which would end at Panja Sharif, the oldest Karbala in the city located at Kashmere Gate, in the evening. Tazias from Okhla, Nizamuddin and Mehrauli would directly reach Karbala in Jor Bagh in south Delhi.

In a bid to restore peace and harmony in Trilokpuri, which had seen clashes of two communities following a drunken brawl on Diwali night, 30 Hindu volunteers would lead five Muharram processions originating from Block 27 and 37 of the area.

Police has also roped in local volunteers to keep an eye on any suspicious activity and identify outsiders who may try to disrupt the peace in the locality.

Procession will remain restrained this time as devotees will not carry any combat weapons. They will also not inflict injuries on themselves using sharp-edged objects like blades, chains and whips which has been a tradition in such procession to mark the mourning.

Muharram is observed by Muslims to mourn the death of Imam Hussein ibn Ali, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad in the battle of Karbala.

Police personnel in anti-riot gear, including six additional companies of police, RAF and CRPF have been posted in Trilokpuri to deal with any situation in case of any emergency.

The processions here will start after the afternoon namaz (Zohar) and pass through routes which have already been identified and sterilized and end at the symbolic Karbala in Trilokpuri's Kotla.

Uneasy clam prevailed in Outer Delhi's Bawana with security being beefed up after Sunday's 'Mahapanchayat' demanding change in the procession route in the area claiming that it would disrupt traffic and businesses.

An alternate route was chalked out with consent of both the communities following police intervention.

Here too, the procession will remain curtailed. Devotees will not be inflicting injuries on themselves and there won't Akhara shows involving youth performing stunts with weapons.

The procession will begin in the afternoon and remained truncated to JJ cluster and not come toward the town as it used to be in earlier times.

Around 1,000 policemen have been deployed in the area and along the routes which will be closely monitored by senior police officials.

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Delhi reports 409 dengue cases till November 1

NEW DELHI: There has been a spurt in dengue cases in the national capital which reported a total 409 cases till November 1.

However, according to the civic bodies the number of cases reported this season is much lower as compared to last year which had recorded about 4,402 dengue cases during the same season in the city.

According to an official report released by South Delhi Municipal Corporation on Monday, the number of dengue cases in Delhi and its adjoining areas like Uttar Pradesh and Haryana has increased to 438.

Changes in weather mainly contributed to this occurrence, said officials.

Till now, two deaths due to dengue have been officially reported in the city which does not include the death of an eight-year-old boy Rishi Qaddafi from Srinagar, who died of dengue at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital on September 28.

"Usually after Diwali, there is a fall in dengue cases. But then there has been a spurt in dengue cases as the temperature is conducive for the breeding of mosquitoes," a senior municipal official said.

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BJP not to project CM candidate in Delhi

NEW DELHI: BJP will contest the assembly polls in the national capital under "collective leadership" and will not project any chief ministerial candidate, Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay announced on Tuesday while exuding confidence of getting a clear majority in the election.

"The party has decided to contest assembly elections under collective leadership. We believe in collective leadership, but it doesn't mean that party lacks good leaders. We will not declare any chief ministerial candidate," he told reporters.

Justifying the decision, Upadhyay said BJP emerged victorious in assembly polls in Haryana and Maharashtra without declaring a chief ministerial candidate while insisting there is no dearth of "good leaders" in the party.

BJP had declared Harsh Vardhan as chief ministerial candidate in the run-up to the assembly polls last year. The announcement had triggered internal bickering as the then Delhi unit chief Vijay Goel was having chief ministerial ambition.

Sounding confident of emerging victorious, Upadhyay said the party will decide about the chief minister at the "appropriate time".

"There is a democratic process within the party. The party high command and the MLAs will decided about the next chief minister after the elections. Now, there is no issue about the CM candidate," he said.

READ ALSO: Polls in Delhi soon, Cabinet OKs dissolution of assembly

The Centre on Tuesday recommended dissolution of the Delhi assembly with immediate after BJP, AAP and Congress expressed their inability to form a government.

"We are very confident of winning Delhi elections. We have won Assembly elections in Maharashtra and Haryana and we will emerged victorious in Delhi also," Upadhyay said.

Asked if he is in the race for the top post, he said, "This question is not pertinent now. We have decided to contest elections under collective leadership. That's all."

Upadhyay said that BJP will "give transparent and responsible government" to the people of Delhi.

"As Narendra Modi ji has brought changes across the country, BJP will form government of people's trust in the national capital," he added.

Slamming Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal, the Delhi BJP chief claimed that Delhiites won't give a chance to him again.

"Kejriwal ran away from his responsibilities after ruling Delhi for just 49 days. People of Delhi will not again trust him and they would choose BJP in Delhi assembly elections which will give good governance," he added.

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Delhi headed for fresh election as all parties express inability to form govt

Written By Unknown on Senin, 03 November 2014 | 22.10

NEW DELHI: Delhi is heading for fresh elections, with all political parties refusing to form a government during their meeting with lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung on Monday.

BJP, Congress and AAP have expressed their inability to form government in Delhi, the LG's office said on Monday.

Lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung, who met representatives of the three parties, will send a report to President Pranab Mukherjee.

"LG has conveyed to us that all political parties want fresh elections," Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia said after AAP delegation met the lieutenant governor on Monday evening.

READ ALSO: Govt formation in Delhi — AAP shows sting video, alleges BJP trying to buy MLAs


"Our stand remains what it was eight months back that we want fresh polls in Delhi so that people of national capital can once again get cheap electricity, water and good governance," ManishSisodia said.

The BJP has refused to form a minority government and favours a fresh mandate.

Do you think BJP has done the right thing by refusing to form a minority government in Delhi?


Congress has also demanded immediate dissolution of the assembly to pave way for holding of elections in Delhi at the earliest.

"We have told the Lt Governor that Congress wants fresh elections along with Assembly polls in Jharkhand and Jammu and Kashmir," Congress leader HarunYusuf said after meeting Jung.

The BJP-Shiromani Akali Dal combine has 29 seats in the 70-member Delhi assembly.

The alliance won 32 seats in the December elections, three short of a majority. Since then, three BJP legislators were elected to the Lok Sabha in the general elections.

AAP, the second largest party, has 28 MLAs.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Delhi headed for fresh polls as all parties express inability to form govt

NEW DELHI: Delhi is heading for fresh elections, with all political parties refusing to form a government during their meeting with lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung on Monday.

BJP, Congress and AAP have expressed their inability to form government in Delhi, the LG's office said on Monday.

Lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung, who met representatives of the three parties, will send a report to President Pranab Mukherjee.

"LG has conveyed to us that all political parties want fresh elections," Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia said after AAP delegation met the lieutenant governor on Monday evening.

"Our stand remains what it was eight months back that we want fresh polls in Delhi so that people of national capital can once again get cheap electricity, water and good governance," Manish Sisodia said.

The BJP has refused to form a minority government and favours a fresh mandate.

Congress has also demanded immediate dissolution of the assembly to pave way for holding of elections in Delhi at the earliest.

"We have told the Lt Governor that Congress wants fresh elections along with Assembly polls in Jharkhand and Jammu and Kashmir," Congress leader Harun Yusuf said after meeting Jung.
The BJP-Shiromani Akali Dal combine has 29 seats in the 70-member Delhi assembly.

The alliance won 32 seats in the December elections, three short of a majority. Since then, three BJP legislators were elected to the Lok Sabha in the general elections.

AAP, the second largest party, has 28 MLAs.

(With inputs from agencies)

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BJP not to form govt in Delhi, expects fresh polls by February next year

NEW DELHI: BJP has decided it will not form a government in Delhi and fresh polls should be held, party sources said on Monday.

BJP sources said Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay met lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung on Monday morning.

Upadhyay, according to sources, conveyed BJP's point of view in the meeting.

The LG's office, however, refused to comment.

Jung will on Monday meet representatives from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress to decide on government formation. Though Upadhyay met the LG in the morning, the BJP is also scheduled to meet Najeeb Jung in the evening.

BJP sources added they expect the election to be held by February next year.

The BJP-Shiromani Akali Dal combine has 29 seats in the 70-member Delhi assembly.

The alliance won 32 seats in the December elections, short of a majority. Since then, three BJP legislators were elected to the Lok Sabha in the general elections.

AAP, the second largest party, has 28 legislators.

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Govt formation: Delhi LG to meet BJP, AAP and Congress

NEW DELHI: Lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung on Monday invited political parties to explore the possibility of government formation in Delhi

Najeeb Jung will hold separate meetings with BJP, Congress and AAP representatives on Monday evening to discuss the goverment formation. While AAP and Congress confirmed that they will be meeting the LG in the afternoon and push for dissolution of the assembly, BJP didn't clarify its stand.

Rumours are that Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay and BJP MLA from Janakpuri Jagdish had met the LG in the morning, but BJP refused to confirm it. Sources say, Upadhyay was called by the senior party leaders at BJP headquarters on Sunday night to communicate party's final stand on the matter.

Sources say, the BJP is likely to turn down the offer to form the government as it doesn't have the numbers. Senior party leader say, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan, who returned from abroad on Sunday evening, told party leaders to push for fresh polls. As the party doesn't have the required numbers to form the government and senior party leaders like Harsh Vardhan and Union urban development minister Venkaiah Naidu stating that the party will not indulge in horse-trading to come to power in Delhi.

The matter regarding the government formation in Delhi is pending in the Supreme Court.

At present, BJP and ally Akali Dal with one MLA, account for 29 legislators and will require the support of five more MLAs to prove majority in a House of 67 if it decides to form the government. The party is hoping of getting the support of expelled AAP MLA Vinod Kumar Binny and Independent MLA from Mundka Ramvir Shokeen.

The total strength of the Delhi assembly is 70 and the three vacancies it has to be filled in by-elections late next month.

READ ALSO: SC can't dictate President to dissolve assembly, Centre says

AAP had formed the government in Delhi with the support of Congress. The government, led by Arvind Kejriwal, had resigned on February 14 after the party's pet project, Janlokpal Bill, could not be passed due to opposition from BJP and Congress.

The President's Rule was imposed in Delhi on February 17.

Jung had not favoured dissolution of the Delhi assembly as recommended by the council of ministers headed by Kejriwal and kept the assembly in suspended animation.

(With inputs from PTI)

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Won't take any unethical steps to form government in Delhi, says BJP

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday said it would never take any unethical step to form the government in Delhi.

BJP leader G V L Narasimha said his party will explore all available options.

"The BJP will never will take up any road which is not ethical to really form a government. The BJP is committed to ethical values. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is totally committed to ethics in politics, but we will explore all available options before taking a final call," Narasimha told ANI here.

Another BJP leader, Parvesh Verma, refused to reveal his party's stand with regard to government formation in Delhi.

"The LG has called for a meeting with three parties, we can tell you after that about our party's stand," he said.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi challenged the BJP to hold fresh polls in Delhi.

"We have condemned this approach to electoral politics, it is ironical that the party which says that we are all over India and we are winning everywhere, is so hesitant, so scared, so fearful of having elections in Delhi. Let the electorate decide," said Singhvi.

Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung is scheduled to meet the leaders of all the three parties later on Monday to discuss the formation of the government in the nation capital.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal had earlier this week urged Jung to call an all-party meeting at the earliest.

Former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit had earlier on Sunday stressed on the importance of a government in the national capital, adding that at present, the citizens of the city had no establishment to address their grievances.

Delhi is under President's rule since Kejriwal resigned as the chief minister on February 14 after being in office for 49 days.

The BJP won 31 seats in the 70-member house while the AAP emerged victorious in 28 seats in the Delhi Assembly polls held last year.

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Directorate of Education sends guidelines to schools for kids' safety

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 02 November 2014 | 22.10

NEW DELHI: The Directorate of Education's office of the Universal Elementary Education Mission has issued yet another set of guidelines on safety of children in schools. This lot addresses disaster preparedness, sex abuse and hygiene as well.

The District Project Officers are expected to implement the guidelines which include instructions to keep elementary school buildings "free from inflammable and toxic materials", ensure they have "adequate emergency exits", enough water and sand for firefighting and classrooms are "washed at periodic intervals and dusted regularly." The circular asks DPOs to arrange for "covered water storage and purification...in case regular piped supply or quality borewells are not present."

Teachers, says the circular issued on October 30, ought to be "trained to regularly monitor and ensure general hygiene in school and of children". They should also be able to detect "signs and symptoms of drug abuse and watch out for children, particularly if they are frequently absent." Children have to be "taught early to differentiate between 'good touch/ bad touch' and encouraged to speak out at the first instance; and the principal needs to make all parts of the school accessible and see that 'there are no secluded or isolated areas'."

The circular also assigns a number of responsibilities to members of School Management Committees. It says that some SMC members, ideally women, should travel with the kids on tours and "devise mechanisms for children to express their grievances." "The SMC," continues the circular, "ensures that whenever any untoward occurrence take[s] place in a school, the 'victim child' is always protected and provided the best possible speedy care-medical and psychological."

The DoE asks the SMCs to even go beyond the school boundaries and sanitize the area it's located in. They have to see that sale points of objectionable materials are removed through a special drive. Community policing for sale of tobacco/drugs etc. may be taken up."

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‘Find space to process solid waste in 15 days’

NEW DELHI: Union urban development minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday said that the identification of locations for processing solid waste should be done by all the municipal corporations in consultation with the DDA within the next 15 days.

Reviewing implementation of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in the national capital here, he directed that dhalaos should be cleaned regularly and details of private agencies involved in the task should be in public domain, a press release said. Pointing out that MCDs and DDA should meet twice a week to sort out the issues, which are hindering the solid waste management in the capital, he said, local bodies should be involved to get feedback on regular basis.

He also called for a three-pronged strategy to realize the goal of Clean India, which should include sustained campaign, voluntary public participation and recognition of ULBs, NGOs and private sector contributing significantly to the success of the Abhiyan. "We should rope in not only social but also spiritual and religious leaders for this campaign. Respectable persons from the society also have to be brought in to spread the core message of this campaign," he said.

Naidu advised that the officers at every level should take note of complaints and feedback from the media.

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30 trains to be cancelled

NEW DELHI: Anticipating a foggy winter, the railways has decided to cancel 30 trains, mostly north-bound, for 47 days from December 31.

"Schedules of 36 trains will be affected from December 31 to February 15, 2015.While 30 trains will remain cancelled, four will be partially cancelled and two will be diverted, keeping the fog in mind," said a senior railway ministry official.

Dibrugarh Rajdhani, Ludhiana Shatabdi and Moga Shatabdi, Jharkhand Sampark Kranti, Lichhivi Express, Garhwal Express, Ujjaini Express and Mahananda Express are among the 30 trains that will be cancelled during this period, said the official.

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Stephanian beats odds, wins three medals for India

NEW DELHI: Ankur Dhama is getting faster and faster. The 21-year-old history student at St Stephen's college returned from Incheon on Sunday with three medals in the bag. He won two bronzes and a silver for middle-long distance running at the Asian Para Games.

He won the silver in the 800m run, behind the Japanese gold winner by just 13 microseconds. "It was just this much," says Dhama—the length of his hand. "I was disappointed but it was a close fight. Also, the winner is a very senior athlete, well over 30," he says. Dhama lost his sight suddenly, over a week, when he was six or seven. "Doctors said it was due to an injury but I've no idea when that happened. I've been operated upon seven-eight times but my vision couldn't be restored or even improved," he says. He's competes in Track 11 for the 100% blind; and though he has no use for them, he sometimes wears a snazzy pair of glasses as a style statement.

Dhama is originally from Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh, where his parents and elder brother are farmers. On his doctor's suggestion, he moved to Delhi and attended JPM Senior Secondary School for the Blind at Lodhi Road. He first competed internationally while still in school. He won two golds—the first lot of many—at the World Youth and Student Championships in 2009. He got to join because at the 2008 Indian Blind Sports Association's national meet, he won gold and set the junior records for both 400 and 800 metres. He covered them in 1:1 minutes and 2:25 minutes, respectively, breaking previous records of 1:3 minutes and 2:37 minutes. He's got a lot faster since, doing better at meets in Malaysia, Dubai and Sharjah. At Incheon, his times were 4:23 minutes for 1,500m (bronze medal) and 2:9 minutes for 800 (silver). He won the second bronze for covering 5,000m in 16:41 minutes; this was the first time he was competing in that category.

The totally blind have guides. "The guide runs alongside holding one end of a rope. You hold the other. He can't drag or pull but helps you with things like directions and obstacles," explains Dhama. His guide was Ankit Yadav whom he met at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium where he trains and his coach is Satyapal Singh, the first Dronacharya Awardee in Delhi University. Singh is sports teacher at Acharya Narendra Dev College.

Stephen's, that had once barred cricketer Unmukt Chand from writing his semester exams for not meeting minimum attendance requirements, has been supportive to Dhama. "My applications for attendance waiver and other permissions are cleared. And whenever I've asked for anything—adjustment in meal times, for instance—they've accommodated." Dhama finished first year of History honours with a 78%.

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Knowledge gap leads to racial crimes: Kiren Rijiju

NEW DELHI: Blaming a lack of sensitivity for the increasing number of racial crimes, minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju on Saturday said racist attacks in the city were happening because society had not "really opened up". Speaking at `Lead On', a leadership summit at Tagore International School, Vasant Vihar, Rijiju also attributed the lack of connectivity and knowledge to racial differentiation in the country. "Racist attacks are happening because our society has not really opened up...Sensitivity is yet to be ingrained in the minds... Dissatisfaction level is very high in the country ," he said.

Union HRD minister Smriti Irani, who was also at the event, invited constructive suggestions from the students on change in the education policy.

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