Will prepare poll manifestos for each of Delhi's 70 assembly seats: Aam Aadmi Party

NEW DELHI: Continuing with its unique moves to ensure peoples' participation in governance, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will by early next month come up with 71 manifestos, one each for the 70 assembly constituencies in Delhi with the remaining one to cover the city as a whole.

The move by the Arvind Kejriwal-led party, which is contesting all 70 assembly seats in the polls scheduled for December 4, is to ensure people's participation in governance.

The common manifesto for Delhi state would include plans for making the city slum free, improving the quality of education in government schools, making health facilities accessible for all, ensuring a daily supply of 700 litres of water free of cost to each household and bringing about a reduction in power tariffs, among others.

The party said it had found in a recent survey that drinking water was a major problem in most areas of Delhi.

"Unlike other political parties, who generally put their agenda on the election manifesto instead of the people's needs and requirements, we are preparing 70 separate manifestos," a party leader said.

The manifestos would highlight the major issues plaguing a particular constituency.

"For this, our volunteers and candidates are going door to door meeting people and enquiring about specific problems in their areas which needed immediate attention," he said.

After all the information, demands and requirements included, has been gathered from a particular constituency, the process of "fine tuning" of the manifesto would begin.

"Common and major problems and the requirements of a constituency would be included in the "fine-tuned" manifesto, which would be finalised after thorough consultations with the eminent residents of the area," he said.

"If their (peoples') issues find place in the manifesto, then they would actively participate in the whole exercise (of governance)," he said.

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Delhi hospitals overflow with hidden dengue epidemic

NEW DELHI: Factory worker Muhammad Awwal is gripped by fever, sweats and the sort of agonizing aches that mean his condition is sometimes called "breakbone disease". It's an annual plague in India and a hidden epidemic, say experts.

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease with no known cure or vaccination that strikes fear into the citizens of New Delhi when it arrives with the monsoon rains — just as the scorching heat of the summer is subsiding.

Hospital wards are overwhelmed and tales abound of deaths and cases while New Delhi public authorities insist that only 3,500 have fallen sick so far this year — with only five fatalities.

"I took him first to a government hospital. I was shocked to see that it was packed with dengue patients. There was not even a single bed available," said Awwal's mother, Mehrunissa, sitting in her one-room shack in east Delhi.

She is now treating him at their home, giving him multi-vitamins, paracetamol and water as he lies on the floor with two pillows and a bedsheet but no mattress.

In a sign that this year's outbreak could be as bad as record-breaking 2010, the city's largest public hospital, Hindu Rao, announced earlier this month that it had suspended all routine surgeries to make room for more dengue patients.

The Delhi government has blamed prolonged monsoons for the hike in infections, but says it has added beds at hospitals and increased resources for spraying insecticides to tackle the mosquito menace.

"It's nothing to worry about, there is no crisis," Charan Singh, additional director of Delhi health services, told AFP, dismissing allegations that the city of 17 million under-reports the problem.

"It is a lot of hype going on ... The government is in action and we report all cases according to international guidelines," he added.

The virus — first detected in the 1950s in the Philippines and Thailand — affects two million people across the globe annually, with the number of cases up 30 times in the last 50 years, according to the World Health Organisation.

Transmitted to humans by the female Aedes aegypti mosquito, it causes high fever, headaches, itching and joint pains that last about a week. There are four strains, one of which can cause fatal internal bleeding.

In India, cases have increased sharply over the last five years — there have been 38,000 so far in 2013 — but doctors say these numbers only capture part of the problem.

At the All India Institute of Medical Sciences ( AIIMS), doctors are overwhelmed by patients whose beds are squeezed together like Tetris tiles in the emergency ward with saline drips nailed to the walls.

Medics, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that they were seeing 60 new dengue patients a day — an influx they suspected was not reflected in the official figures.

"Maybe it's because they don't want to create panic or because they don't want to be blamed, but if they hide, people won't know how bad the situation is," said one doctor.

The former health chief at the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) said that only positive results from one of the two standard dengue tests — known as ELISA test — was registered.

"There is gross under-reporting of these cases every year. I believe the real numbers are always three times higher than those projected by the MCD," VK Monga told AFP.

Sandeep Budhiraja, internal medicines director at private Max Healthcare hospital in Delhi, blamed city authorities for failing to be prepared and said cases would only decline with the onset of winter next month.

"It's an epidemic that hits the country every year, yet there is never any preparedness by officials. It just keeps getting worse," said Budhiraja, adding that Max had opened its fever wards to accommodate dengue patients.

While dengue is painful and debilitating, death is usually rare but patients are vulnerable to other fatal viral infections during or shortly after the time of illness.

There is still no specific treatment, but last year French healthcare giant Sanofi Pasteur said it would begin tests for a dengue vaccine in India before making it available internationally by 2015.

A leading Brazilian biomedical research institute, Butantan, also said last month it was working on a new dengue vaccine that they hoped would be ready by 2018.

British firm Oxitec has also created genetically modified sterile male Aedes mosquitoes - what they call "birth control for insects" - but met with severe criticism for releasing unnatural species into the environment.

The only defence so far is preventive steps, like removing stagnant water near residential areas, spraying insecticide, applying mosquito repellent and wearing long sleeves and trousers.

Many victims in India gulp down papaya-leaf juice believing it to boost blood platelet levels, which are decimated by the virus.

"It is a largely preventive, self-limiting virus, but we still hardly invest in research for treatments," said Budhiraja from Max Healthcare.

"There are only some vaccines being tried out, but no luck yet."

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Arvind Kejriwal gears up for poll with 14-hour days

It's 9.30am. A lone man walks out of a nondescript building wearing a white Gandhi cap and clutching a yellow plastic bag. There is no fanfare, no crowd of excited supporters. He gets into a blue WagonR, and accompanied by two trusted colleagues sets off for a long, hectic day. This is Arvind Kejriwal and he heads the newest party in town.

"I am not here to make a career out of politics. I am here because I realized that it is only when we are in the government that we can change things," he says. What if the chief minister decides to contest from some other seat? "We are opposing misrule. I will fight her in whichever constituency she chooses to contest from," he adds.

A 14-hour day is normal for Kejriwal as he flits between public meetings, padyatras, television appearances and party work, but he says this is a slightly relaxed time for him. "Before the model code of conduct kicked in, I used to leave home at 7am and often returned only around 1am. Now that there are so many restrictions on the kind of campaigning we can carry out, my public interaction has reduced. We do not want to get on the wrong side of the Election Commission. However , even though I have more time at home, party meetings keep me occupied," he says.

As he tours through the city, Kejriwal seems at ease with the adulation people are showering upon him. At red lights people stop and point, some wave while others knock at the car's window to get his attention. Some even ask for autographs. And he doesn't disappoint. He rolls down his window, shakes hands and seeks votes for his Aam Aadmi Party. He even gives his phone number to those who ask for it. "I tell them not to call me though, since I barely have time to receive calls. However, each morning, I respond to every single message that I get," he says.

Kejriwal is not without his critics . "Aise to sab hote hein jab vote maangane aate hein (all politicians are complaisant while canvassing)," says a woman at a manifesto meeting in the Gole Market area. Kejriwal attends four such meetings on Saturday to compile a list of problems in his New Delhi constituency. Around 30 or so attend each meeting , some genuinely interested and some curious onlookers. "It is only curiosity with a new party that has pulled many people to this meeting. We have heard these promises before from other politicians ," says another .

However, there is a certain sense of despair and frustration with the current state of governance in those who engage with Kejriwal . An old woman at KG Marg upstages him for a couple of minutes as she yells her troubles over the mike. He waits, asking the rest to remain quiet and listen to the woman he now calls 'amma' . He tells her that he can't promise to set her life right but he will try. As he hurries from one meeting to another, Kejriwal lends an ear to anyone who wants to talk to him. People stop him on the road, saying they don't want to be at the forefront but would like to help with the campaign.

"I never thought that water would be a problem in this constituency ," says Kejriwal munching on a chapatti and aloo subzi roll, his only meal till he gets back home in the evening. He has water when someone reminds him and pops a sweet when his sugar levels start falling. "Other than water, ill-treatment of servants is another major concern here. Agencies like NDMC and CPWD have also largely ignored the concerns of the lower class people in this area," he says.

He discusses the performance of candidates, distribution of pamphlets and fund-raisers over the phone. In between, he gets a call from a Middle Eastern country against a constituency manager the caller does not find effective.

Four meetings, one court hearing in a defamation case for something he said against the chief minister, and one television interview later, Kejriwal returns home to four more meetings. "Today is a light day," he says. A group of traders is waiting to meet him. They are served water by his wife and half an hour later they leave. Kejriwal walks them out to the elevator and returns alone to some quiet time with a volunteer before people arrive for the next meeting.

"How can I say I am tired when he is going so strong? He barely sleeps for a few hours each night and has to start taking insulin because his sugar levels are going crazy. Hopefully, things settle down in December ," says his wife.

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Delhi more developed than Gujarat: Dikshit

NEW DELHI: Taking on BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit on Sunday said Delhi was more developed than the Gujarat he rules and her Congress does not promote "hatred and division".

"Delhi's development model is much better than Gujarat's. We have the highest per capita income and the quality of life and infrastructure in the capital is being praised by all, whereas a large number of people in Gujarat still lack basic amenities," Dikshit said.

Addressing a public gathering in west Delhi's Nangloi area, Dikshit, who has been Delhi chief minister since 1998, highlighted her achievements and urged the people to vote Congress back to power in the Dec 4 assembly polls.

"Delhi has around 24 institutions of higher education, including six state level universities, commissioned by Delhi government in shortest possible time."

"The percentage of female enrollment is higher in Delhi than many other states," she said.

"We provide monthly pension of up to Rs.1,500 to the city's elderly, widows, and physically challenged. Is any other state doing anything similar?" she asked.

"The Congress government cares and shares and does not propagate and promote hatred and division," she said.

Dikshit urged Delhi's people to not get carried away by the "false promises" of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Admi Party (AAP), its two main election opponents.

"People should vote for Congress as we are tested, tried and trusted. Our performance has been certified by people," she said.

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19-year-old drunk car driver kills one, injures two

NEW DELHI: A man was killed and two others were seriously injured when a teenager, stated to be drunk, rammed a car into a two-wheeler, a rickshaw and a passerby in east Delhi's Anand Vihar area on Saturday night.

The accused Harjeet Nagpal (19) was arrested after a two-kilometre chase and was allegedly found to be heavily drunk, said police, adding that he does not even have a driving licence.

The mishap took place around 8.30pm. Harjeet, who was driving an 'i20' car, first rammed it into a scooty being driven by a 19-year-old girl and then hit a passerby. The car did not stop at this and went on to hit a cycle rickshaw, killing its puller.

Further, while fleeing the spot, Harjeet again rammed into a police picket there.

He was arrested after a two-kilometer chase and was found to be heavily drunk, said police.

Rickshaw puller Sadir (25) died in the accident, while two-wheeler driver Soni (19) and the passerby Shivpal (38) have suffered grievous head injuries, said police.

They injured are being treated at a nearby hospital. Harjeet lives with his family in Jwala Nagar. Strict action will be taken against Harjeet's parents who allowed him to drive the car without licence, the police said, adding that a case of causing death due to rash and negligent driving has been registered.

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AIIMS study finds 4% of Delhi kids have high BP

NEW DELHI: If your child is overweight, avoids fruits and vegetables, and prefers computer games to the real ones, be concerned. A new AIIMS study on 10,000 Delhi schoolchildren has found that 3-4% of them suffered from hypertension, the most common cause of heart-related deaths. Among these were children as young as five years old.

The study, conducted on children from low and middle income groups, found incidence of hypertension — which means having high blood pressure — increased with age and body mass index (BMI), which is a determinant of obesity.

"Almost 70% of kids with childhood hypertension are likely to grow into hypertensive adults if corrective steps such as diet control and physical activity are not undertaken," said Dr Umesh Kapil, lead author of the study, published in the latest issue of Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Given people's sedentary lifestyles, Dr Kapil said screening of children for hypertension should be make part of the school health programme.

The study was undertaken in municipal-run schools and Kendriya Vidyalayas and BP readings were noted as per recommendations of the American Heart Association.

Hypertension is the most common cause of non-communicable diseases in India — chiefly heart disease, brain stroke and kidney disease.

"It is estimated that 16% of ischaemic heart disease, 21% of peripheral vascular disease, 24% of acute myocardial infarctions and 29% of strokes are attributable to hypertension, underlining the huge impact effective hypertension prevention and control can have on reducing the rising burden of cardiovascular disease," said Dr Kapil, who heads the human nutrition unit at AIIMS.

He said cutting down on junk food, which is high in salt, and promoting physical activity can help ward-off hypertension in children.

"Prevalence of hypertension in schoolchildren belonging to the low income group, as has been shown in this study, is alarming. Awareness about risk factors for childhood obesity and correct nutrition in this income group is largely absent. Since many of these children belong to government schools, government should strengthen nutrition-related knowledge and increase physical activity in these schools," said Dr Anoop Misra from Fortis.

"High blood pressure doesn't often cause symptoms. It is important to have periodical screening for blood pressure to detect the condition, more importantly in obese children who are double at risk," said Dr Anupam Sibal, group medical director of Apollo hospitals.

He said doctors are getting cases of children as young as eight years old who are obese and suffer from hypertension. "In rare cases, children may experience headaches and blurred vision due to high blood pressure. They have to be put on medication for BP control and strict lifestyle changes," he added.

Sailesh Mohan, senior research scientist and associate professor at the Public Health Foundation of India, said foods with high salt content increase thirst and lead to increased consumption of calorie-dense soft drinks, thus indirectly contributing to childhood obesity.

"Almost 80% of people do not consume the recommended quantities of fruits and vegetables, which are good sources of potassium and can reduce the impact of sodium on blood pressure," he said.

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Cricketer Murali Kartik involved in car crash in Delhi

NEW DELHI: Indian cricketer Murali Kartik and his wife, Shweta, had a narrow escape after their Volvo car collided with a Mahindra Xylo near the Polish embassy in Chanakyapuri.

The incident took place around 12:15am on Thursday when the couple was returning from a hotel in central Delhi to their home in Green Park. "Kartik was driving towards Niti Marg from the slip lane when the accident took place. The Xylo was coming from the airport and going towards Mayur Vihar," the officer said.

Kartik and Shweta, who sustained minor injuries in the accident, took the driver of the other car to a hospital in Ghaziabad. Sudeep, who was travelling in the Xylo, fractured his right hand while the driver and another occupant suffered minor injuries, police said.

No case has been registered. "Neither Kartik nor Sudeep have filed a complaint but we may register a case on our own after recording their statements," said a police officer.

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Delhi cop shoots two people

NEW DELHI: Angry over a business dispute, a Delhi Police constable fired at and injured two people in a property dealer's office, police said on Saturday. Both are under treatment at a hospital here.

Ashish, posted at Moti Nagar police station, shot at Mintu and Naveen, the two business partners, at Prashant Vihar in west Delhi late Friday, a police officer said.

"The argument started over a business dispute among the three at an office of a property dealer. Ashish opened fire at Mintu and Naveen, and fled from the scene," said the officer.

Police said both the injured, who were hit by one bullet each, were admitted to the hospital. Ashish was now on run.

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Sex racket busted in Delhi

NEW DELHI: A sex racket was busted in New Delhi and five women, including four sex workers and a pimp, were arrested, police said on Saturday.

The sex workers are between 25 and 30 years old, and were running the racket for the past several months at a house in Sector-15 in Rohini area in north Delhi, police said.

A police team conducted the raid Friday night after a tip-off and made the arrests.

"Out of the five, one sex worker belongs to Madhya Pradesh, one is from Bihar while the other two are from West Bengal. The pimp belongs to Delhi," said a police officer.

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Poll surveys by opposition parties 'malicious campaigns': Delhi Congress

NEW DELHI: Pre-poll surveys being cited by opposition parties as an indicator of popular support was an attempt to mislead people through "malicious campaigns", Congress said on October 19.

Haroon Yusuf, Arvinder Singh and Raj Kumar Chouhan — three senior ministers in the Sheila Dikshit government — launched a broadside against the survey results being cited by Delhi BJP as well as Aam Aadmi Party which have seen both parties claiming that they would win the December 4 Assembly polls.

"These are fake surveys and malicious campaigns (by the parties) to mislead the people of Delhi and project themselves as the winner ahead of the polls. It is basically a mockery of democracy," urban development minister Singh told reporters.

Opposition BJP is not worried about the "problems and issues plaguing the people of Delhi", instead their aim was to come to power by any means, Singh alleged.

"Between 1993 and 1998, when BJP was in power, they had three chief ministers. Now, while they haven't yet formed the government, their leaders are still fighting amongst themselves to become the party's chief ministerial candidate. Their emphasis is on coming to power by any means," he said.

The ministers also revealed a poster featuring caricatures of the Delhi BJP chief and other chief ministerial contenders, including Harshwardhan, Vijender Gupta and VK Malhotra.

Mocking the survey results shared by BJP and AAP, Singh said, "It is their right to conduct surveys. But I can't understand how both parties are going to form the government at the same time. That puts a question mark on such surveys."

Although he did not take any names, in an apparent reference to AAP, Singh alleged that the party was inflating surveys figures.

"I think that in the next 15-20 days, they would touch the 90 per cent mark (of vote share)," he said.

Power minister Yusuf remarked on the BJP claim that it would bring in six to seven companies with a view to ensuring a lowering of the power tariff through greater competition saying that if each firm set up its own infrastructure, then electricity bills were more likely to go up than fall.

Attacking BJP and AAP for projecting a poor state of education in Delhi, Chauhan said the record was dismal at MCD-run schools, not the government-run ones.

"Our Sarvodaya schools have 98 per cent results while in MCD schools, a Class V student can't write the basic alphabet. Also, the pupil to teacher ratio (1:35) is the best in our schools," Chauhan said.

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