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October 23, 2001, Chandigarh, India
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FACE TO FACE Leader of the Opposition and the BJP in the Delhi Assembly Jagdish Mukhi is a trained financial analyst having a doctorate in the subject. No wonder he was chosen as the Finance Minister in the last BJP government in Delhi. A second time MLA from the Janakpuri constituency, Mukhi has been raising issues of public concern, quoting facts and figures, as dealing with numbers is his forte. A versatile writer, Mukhi has several books to his credit and almost all deal with money matters. In an interview with R SURYAMURTHY and SYED ALI AHMED, Mukhi analyses the performance of the present Congress government vis-à-vis the erstwhile BJP government and outlines the issues dogging the city state: Q. Despite the growth of industrial cities in Gurgaon, Noida and Ghaziabad, a large number of people continue to swamp mainland Delhi in search of better opportunities. What measures do you suggest to realise the concept of National Capital Region (NCR)? The real solution of the problems faced by Delhi lies with the development of the NCR. Those offices, which don’t have direct dealings with the public, must be relocated in the NCR. Trade centres should be developed in the NCR with infrastructure facilities equivalent to those available in Delhi. Some projects are coming up in the NCR like the express highway which would prove beneficial. Five railway lines connect Delhi. If these lines are effectively utilised with efficient services, and good infrastructure facilities are provided in the satellite towns of Delhi, then most of the problems faced by the Capital could be solved. Further, this would spur growth in the neighbouring states as well since more investment would come to the region, thus generating more employment opportunities. A wrong notion has been nursed by neighboring states like Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan that the development of the NCR is the sole role of Delhi. Q. What do you consider are the major achievements of the Congress government in Delhi? A. The major achievement of the three-year-old Congress government is the continuation of the plans and decisions taken by the earlier BJP government. During their tenure, they have been struggling to implement the directives of the Supreme Court, High Court and Tribunals. The BJP government had revived the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, a 30-year old project, and I had personally made efforts to arrange funds. For the first phase, covering 55 km and costing Rs 9,000 crore, our government was able to arrange a soft loan of Rs 6,000 from Japan. Besides Rs 1,500 crore each had been committed by both the Delhi government and the Centre. Our government had also sanctioned money to build several fly-overs in the Capital, to reduce traffic congestion. Since the Congress government carried on with the project, several fly-overs have now come up. The present government has also pursued our government’s decision to set up Indraprastha Vishwavidyalaya to meet the aspirations of the students eager to take up professional courses. Several courses have now commenced. We are happy that the Congress government continued with the policies initiated by us, which are ultimately for the benefit of the people of Delhi. Q. Can you identify the areas where the present government has not performed up to your expectations? The major fronts on which this government has failed to deliver are water, power and sewerage. Each year, Delhi receives at least five lakh more people and the population of the state is now a crore strong. During the past three years, the population of the Capital has increased by 15 lakh, but the Congress government has not been able to increase even a single drop of water. The availability of water per person, as a result, has dropped in the Capital which is a matter of great concern. In several areas of the Capital, water pipes and sewerage lines run side by side and, in many areas, water from sewage seeps into water pipes, thus spreading water-borne diseases. The power scenario in the Capital is dismal. While the Delhi Vidyut Board has the capacity to handle 2,500 mw of power, the demand during non-peak hours itself is about 3,200 mw and during peak time it varies from 3,500 mw to 3,800 mw. Thus, there is an average shortfall of 500 mw to 800 mw of power daily. Power shortage has affected industrial growth in Delhi. Planned industrial areas of Delhi experience, on an average, 11 hours of power cut each day, which severely affects the industrial output. In residential areas, the load shedding varies from four to 12 hours. The basic problem with the Congress government is its attitude of confrontation with the Centre. Public protests by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit outside the office of the Lt Governor and Union Home Minister send a wrong message. We were able to secure several power projects from the Centre due to our persuasive skills. Q. What are your views on the CNG crisis and where do you think the government can be faulted in this respect? Without casting aspersions on the judges, I would like to state that Delhiites have suffered due to the over-activism of the judiciary. Moreover, some of the decisions were not based on the ground reality either. Though the Supreme Court passed the orders in good faith, I would fully blame the Delhi government for not providing the apex court with the information of what is possible and by what date. Wrong affidavits filed by the Delhi government resulted in the Supreme Court issuing directives, which could not be practically implemented within a specified time period. Wrong interpretation of the Supreme Court orders by the Delhi government had caused a lot of harassment to the people. The long queues were due to the government’s orders, making it mandatory for taxis and auto-rickshaws to convert their vehicles into CNG. The Supreme Court has clarified that it never gave any such directives. The court said the CNG directive was only for the buses. For auto-rickshaws, they had directed its conversion to four-stroke engines. What would happen to those new auto-rickshaws with two-stroke engines that have been registered recently? Due to the fault of the state government, about 20,000 auto-rickshaw drivers have to suffer. The Centre had indicated that it would provide 84 CNG stations in the Capital and it has already set up 87 stations. Further, 14 dispensers have also been installed to meet the demand of the public. Q. Do you think that the problems faced by the people could be solved to a great extent if full statehood is granted to Delhi? Full statehood would expedite the decision-making process. It would reduce the multiplicity of authority which acts as a hindrance in the implementation of policies. This also results in lack of coordination. Like all states, the Centre should transfer the power of law and order and land to Delhi which would help the government in the Capital to govern better. |
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Sikhs cut up over INLD govt
volte-face Gurgaon, October 22 The simmering discontent could prove embarrassing for the ruling alliance at the Centre as the INLD and the SAD are part of the NDA. More so, because Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala and Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal are billed as political associates. The Congress, which bounced back to power in 1991 assembly elections in the state, had decided towards the middle of its term to name the two-km stretch between Pataudi Chowk and New Colony Chowk as Guru Gobind Singh Road. The HVP government, which succeeded the Congress, decided to honour the decision and its PWD minister Karan Singh Dalal even laid the foundation stone for setting up the "Dwaar" (Gate) at New Colony Chowk. However, the Bansi Lal government was toppled and the project could not take off. Now, the project seems to have run aground, caught in devious political crosscurrents, as was borne out by the ensuing events. In the first general house meeting of the local Municipal Council, after the INLD came to power, the Singh Sabha made a fresh bid for the project. Its request that it should be allowed to set up the Dwaar at its own cost was taken up during the deliberations of the municipality. The House reportedly adopted a resolution unanimously in its favour. However, the councillors and the members of the Sikh community were stunned when they saw the minutes of the meeting, which stated that the resolution had been suspended. Mr Ishwar Dass Jham, who is close to the ruling INLD, told The Tribune that a number of councillors had objected to the alleged “tampering” with the resolution. According to him, the councillors, including the lone Sikh member of the House, Mr D. S. Bakshi, had met the Deputy Commissioner and the President of the municipality. He revealed that the councillors pointed out during the deliberations that Guru Gobind Singh was revered not only by the Sikhs but by the entire nation and politics should not come in the way of the project. The members of the Sikh community allege that politics at various levels has vitiated the atmosphere. First, the Congress government had decided in favour of naming the road after the Guru on account of the initiatives of the then Minister for Local Bodies, Mr Dharamveer Gaubba. Significantly, Mr Gaubba was the local MLA, whose main rival in Gurgaon is the present Deputy Speaker of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha. Mr Gopi Chand Gehlot. Incidentally, Mr Gehlot defeated Mr Gaubba for the first time in the last assembly elections. A former councillor, Mr Paramjit S. Oberoi, urged the government to expedite the process of setting up of the Dwaar. |
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Will the fine on litterbugs also go up in
smoke? New Delhi, October 22 The city government on Saturday announced its decision to impose a fine of Rs 5,000 on any individual caught littering the roads, drains or public places in the Capital. The new law will come into force next week. “Of course, people should be fined for littering public places. That is the only way they will realise their mistake," said housewife Ms Deepa Vohra, a resident of Saket. “The idea is very good if implemented properly. But it is doubtful that the authorities will do something about it. In the beginning, yes, I am sure they will keep a close tab. But if people who are caught get away by giving bribes, then the plan will be a failure, a complete failure,” said Mr Vohra Rowena Uppal, a public relations officer. “This is a hasty measure which is unlikely to work. Previously, the government had tried to control smoking in public places. What has come of it? I have never seen anybody being fined for that. What is the point of making plans, if there is no intention to take them forward?” Mr Uppal asked. Instead of imposing fines, the government must try and educate people, he felt. The Delhi Environment Minister, Mr A. K. Walia, agreed that the plan was difficult to be implemented. “But we will make sure that those who are caught are fined. They will not get away easily. We also need the people’s co-operation to make it effective,” he told The Tribune. “This is not a fight between the citizens and the government, that just because we are not able to catch them littering the roads, they start criticising us. It is a way to improve things. We need them to keep their country clean and not find ways to get away after littering,” he added. Ms Sarah Singh, who works in an export house in West Delhi, said: “If they are fining Rs 5,000, do you think people who travel in buses will pay this amount? If they get away by paying the officials Rs 100 under the table, I don't see any reason why this plan would work.” Abhinav Darbari, a final-year student of Delhi University, was rather blunt: “No matter what the government does, as far as India is concerned, nothing will improve. Corruption is not good or bad anymore. It has become a way of life for the people living in this dirty country. Why is it that when Indians go abroad, they always throw the garbage in the bins but never do the same in their own country? If after 50 years of Independence, people have not learnt to keep their country clean, I have little hope that things will improve now. India is a dirty country, and no mare garbage can make it dirtier than it is.” Opinion is divided about the amount fixed as fine for the offence. While some felt it should be doubled, others said Rs 5,000 was "way too high”. Lt Prashant Dhingra of the Indian Navy, a resident of R. K. Puram, said: “It is a very good decision. I don't care whether it will be implemented or not, but at least people will be a little scared of littering public places. In fact, I think the fine should be doubled. That is the only way to improve things. May be only a little bit, but things will definitely improve.” Anjali Misra, final year student of Delhi University, said: “The fine shouldn't be more than Rs 100. With a fine like Rs 5,000, it surely won't be implemented. Who will pay a fine so high? Obviously, they will try and give bribes and the whole purpose will be lost. The fine should be enough to make the person feel punished, not bankrupt.” Reacting to this, Mr Walia said that we had to be strict to see things improve. “With a fine like Rs 5,000, people will definitely think twice before littering,” he felt. Himanshu Khurana, a resident of Greater Kailash, asked: “Does the Government of India think that a 'thelawallah' or, for that matter, a 'chaiwallah' will pay Rs 5,000? Or is the fine just for the wealthy who travel in cars?” |
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Tamper fun with caution, kids
advised New Delhi, October 22 The sudden flood of toys like swords, bows and arrows in the market during Dassehra give a macho feeling to children. They can be potentially dangerous for the eyes, warn eye specialists. Inspired by Ram Lila and mythological TV serials, children brandish swords at each other or shoot arrows. If these happen to hit the eyes they can lead to permanent blindness,” according to doctors associated with the National Society for the Prevention of Blindness-India. This happens more often if the injury is severe and not treated properly, they point out, adding that any injury in and around the eyes should be taken seriously and treated on an emergency basis even though all injuries are not dangerous. In fact, a majority gets away with injuries like lid laceration, conjunctival tears or corneal abrasion, which can be managed. According to them, in most cases timely and effective intervention can save the eyeball as also preserve sight. Hence, it is advisable to rush to an eye surgeon. Patching the eye is not a must but if it is done one should always use a sterilised pad. Oral intake of any fluid, including water, and food should be stopped immediately to facilitate anaesthesia in case of surgery. Rubbing or massaging of the eye is an absolute no. So is forcible opening of the affected eye of a child. Similarly, applying medication to the injured eye without consulting an eye specialist can cause more damage to the eye. |
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Student beaten to
death Faridabad, October 22 Classmates of Ajay, who was “killed” by four of his schoolmates, describe him as a “nice quiet fellow”. The murder has caused a flutter in the otherwise peaceful Devli village where Ajay’s family resides. A pall of gloom has descended on the school campus, where students mourned the death of their fellow student today. It’s not exactly a hate crime like those in the US. The motive behind the gruesome incident is reported be old enmity. According to police sources, Ajay, son of Ramnaresh, was attacked brutally by Kuldeep and his four friends with sticks while he was going with a friend to Chhaprola village on a two-wheeler at noon. While Ajay took all the beatings of the “gang”, his friend was spared. Ajay later succumbed to injuries on the way to hospital. It is learnt that an enmity had developed between Ajay and Kuldeep about a month ago. Kuldeep and his friends intercepted Ajay at a lonely place yesterday and assaulted him to “teach him a lesson”. A senior police official said that there was some tension in Devli village following the news of the murder. The situation is under control and policemen have been stationed there. The body was handed over to the parents after the post-mortem examination. The police said that further investigations were on to unearth the cause of the enmity. A case under Section 302 of the IPC has been registered. |
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Dacoits barge into
CA’s Noida house Noida, October 22 According to the Sector 20 police, the assailants entered Mr Raj Kumar Gupta’s house around 3 am after removing the grill of a window. They first disconnected the phone and tied Gupta and his family members with a rope. They searched the almirahs and boxes in the house for about one hour till 4.15 am and took away cash, jewellery, diamonds, precious stones and silver ware worth lakhs of rupees were taken away by the assailants. While the intruders were leaving, Mr Gupta overpowered one of them. However, his other accomplices attacked Mr Gupta with a sharp-edged weapon and an iron rod injuring him seriously. Mr Gupta was rushed to Kailash Hospital where he was progressing well, according to doctors. |
An ode to Kalidasa’s six seasons in Noida Noida, October 22 The ecological park, the brainchild of Prof Udai Narain Tewari, and adopted by Noida, is going to be spread over an area of 60 acres. The land for this has already been identified, the Noida Additional CEO, Mr Deo Datta said. “The idea is wonderful”, Mr Datta said, adding,” We are processing it now and once the land is in our possession then we propose to sign an MoU with
the organisation”. Giving further details of the ambitious project, Professor Tewari told TNS Ritusamhar Vatika would “have 75 per cent of the allotted land for nature”. Almost 45 acres of the land would be divided into six parts, which would depict each season, beginning with summer and ending with spring. In these six areas, flora and fauna related to the six seasons would be on show. The project, conceived in the backdrop of ecological insanity perpetrated by mindless destruction of nature, was on the verge of becoming a reality as a result of the efforts of the Noida Chairman, Mr V.K. Malhotra, who recognised that the project had immense possibilities, Professor Tewari said, adding that once created it was bound to attract global attention of ecologists. Professor Tewari, who is Director of the Green Scouts Foundation, said the six Indian seasons — Greeshma, Pavas, Sharad, Shishir, Hemant and Vasant—were not even recognised by many. The younger generation unfortunately did not even know the names of the seasons. In the centre of the park, there would a lake with perennially fresh water, keeping in its womb maximum possible ingredients of biodiversity. A zone of silence for meditation had also been planned. The six seasons would be sculpted in stone that would be placed suitably in the zone of silence. The sculptures, denoting seasons, would be the starting point for the demarcation of seasons in the vatika. Trees and creepers matching the needs of a particular season would be kept in mind. Mere entry into a particular area would convince the visitor of its seasonal speciality in charm and fragrance and brilliance in colour, Professor Tewari pointed out. He said an ecology museum, an art gallery and an open-air theatre would also be built there. A light and sound show presenting the grandeur and glory of seasons had also been planned so that visitors, particularly children, could be acquainted with the global eco-atlas. An ode to nature, the park would be a humble effort to honour the greatest Indian poet of all times and that too in a unique manner. This would go a long way in inspiring human consciousness to deepen its thrust towards love of nature. It would also be a symbol against global ecological imbalance responsible for ocean warming and the hole in the ozone layer, threatening the very existence of the earth, Professor Tewari said. |
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Lajpat Nagar, a shoppers’
hell New Delhi, October 22 “Where are the authorities?” she shouted as she walked on the road avoiding the heavy traffic, pestered by the honking cars. “Don’t the authorities see all this? These pavements are meant for us to walk on,” She added, disclosing that she was visiting the market after three months and the situation had only become worse. “People have to walk in the middle of the road. I have come for shopping and I can’t even do that in peace,” she
rued. Inderjeet Singh Chaddha, another shopper, said, “As a result of the encroachments made by these people (the car mechanics) I have to walk on the main roads. This is the reason behind so many accidents taking place in this area.” Divided into four parts, Lajpat Nagar in South Delhi is one of the busiest shopping complexes in the Capital. Dotted by hundreds of shops on both sides of the road and the
bylanes, the market has some of the most renowned showrooms besides the roadside ‘thelawallahs’ and hundreds of car mechanics. After Independence, Lajpat Nagar was one of the colonies founded in South Delhi to settle and rehabilitate refugees, who had fled home and hearth across the border in newly formed Pakistan. Today, the residential population of Lajpat Nagar is “nearly three
lakh, comprising mostly Punjabis and Sindhis,” said the Residents’ Welfare Association
(RWA) president, Mr Gulab Rai. “Traffic is one of the major problems of this area thanks to the encroachers. Not only is there no place for shoppers and residents to walk but there is also the concomitant problem of safety because these mechanics stay on till late at night and even sleep on the pavements,” complained the beleaguered Mr
Rai. The residents had made several complaints to the police as well as the Municipal Corporation of Delhi
(MCD) and many a time the encroachers had also been evicted but the residents have just one thing to say about this: “It is just an eyewash.” The MCD Commissioner, Mr
S.P. Aggarwal, said, “We have removed encroachments in Lajpat Nagar in the past and we will do it again soon.” Another senior MCD official, who did not wish to be identified, said, “We are trying to find a permanent solution to the problem. Each time we evict the encroachers from the pavements they seem to find their way back somehow. Obviously, the police is not doing its job of keeping the encroachers away very well.” Abdul
Asim, one of the mechanics, said, “Why should we be removed from here? Yes, I know I work on a pavement but then if I am doing something illegal why don’t the MCD authorities or the police remove me from here permanently. It is because I pay them enough to stay away from here and they are quite happy with the arrangement.” |
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THE ACHIEVERS New Delhi, October 22 Singh, who came out with flying colours in the making of Munshi Premchand’s ‘Nirmala’, rated next only to `Ramayan’ and above the blockbuster ‘Buniyaad’ as far as average viewership is concerned, had sworn that he would not go to Mumbai to prove his potential. “I always thought that if I was good I would prove myself even living in Delhi. But I think I was wrong,” Singh told The Tribune. A resident of Chhattarpur in south Delhi, Singh is now planning to shift to Mumbai if he gets a good offer. “If I carry on living in Delhi I will get rusted,” he said. Though he does not agree, directing `Nirmala' was a big challenge for Parminder Singh who was then in 1988 just 28 years old. "It was a challenge alright, but I did not take it as a challenge as it would have put me under tremendous pressure. I took this work as work," he said. As far as biographies of sportspersons go, Singh said that Milkha Singh's was his first and last. "I have had bad experiences while making his (Milkha Singh's) biography. I got no support from him at all. In fact, he would interfere all the time on the sets." Like `Nirmala', 'Flying Sikh Milkha Singh' was only the third biography of a sportsperson in the world, after Romanian gymnast Nadia and American athlete Jessie Owens, to be screened on television. It also won Parminder Singh great recognition when it was shown on BBC, ABC (USA) and on Asia television. “I am a director and if I am doing a biography on someone I have to make some changes in the real story to suit the viewers. My job is also to attract viewers. Why should another person interfere?” asked Singh. Giving one instance, Singh said: “Milkha Singh’s mother in reality had blisters on her face. And Milkha wanted me to show that on TV. But if my serial is being aired on Prime Time, will the viewer want to see an ugly face while he is having dinner? So I didn’t show that and Milkha created quite a fuss about it. But after the success of the serial, Milkha was the happiest.” After the success of ‘Flying Sikh Milkha Singh’, Parminder Singh made a telefilm ‘Lord Mahavira’ which was aired by the BBC but not by any Indian TV channel because it was ‘controversial’. Explaining the movie, Singh said: “With the name it might sound as if it would be some ancient movie, but it was not. It was a movie about a husband and a wife of today explaining the teachings of Lord Mahavira in a language that people might understand today. “Why did not even one channel air it? Why was it controversial? Just because I was trying to say something new, even though I was saying the same things that (Lord) Mahavira said. I was just saying them in a simpler way. Isn’t this killing a director?” Now Parminder Singh is trying hard to get a sponsor for his serial called ‘Bhamini’. “It is about women who have achieved something in life. It is about their struggles and how they fought all odds to reach where they are today. It is a simple story but no one is ready to sponsor it. So what is the point of working? I am working to make a difference and the difference is only possible if my work is shown,” he said. With all the ‘odds going against’ him, the 42-year-old director is all set for a glorious innings behind the screen. Like he said, “Work or no work, an artiste is always at work.” |
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VHP for deporting
Bangladeshis New Delhi, October 22 Describing the atrocities on the Hindus as “part of global Islamic terrorism”, VHP Senior Vice President Acharya Giriraj Kishore also expressed dissatisfaction over the reaction of the
BJP-led Government to the developments in Bangladesh and alleged that many NDA partners were not in favour of deporting infiltrators. “The killing of 16 BSF personnel by Bangladesh Rifles earlier this year should have been enough to provoke the Indian Government. Hindu women, their property and business are unsafe there and they are being humiliated but India has merely sent a useless protest note,” Kishore regretted. Warning of a massive agitation, Kishore demanded immediate deportation of all illegal Bangladeshis and disenfranchisement of those included in the voters’ list after setting a cut-off date.
VHP activists would stage a protest demonstration outside the Bangladesh High Commission here tomorrow in protest against the attacks, he said Asked why BJP was not implementing its earlier agenda of deporting all infiltrators, Kishore said, “Many NDA partners don’t want the Bangladeshis to go.” He also demanded issuance of ‘Green Cards’ for and all assistance to Bangladeshi Hindus seeking refuge in India. As if on cue, the Shiv Sena too voiced its concerns about the wellbeing of the Hindus living in Bangladesh. The Delhi unit chief of the party, Jaibhagwan
Goyal, alleged that atrocities were deliberately being committed on the community by Muslim fundamentalists, to force the Hindus to flee that country. |
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Erosion of Sikh tenets
lamented New Delhi, October 22 “More than 60 per cent of the Sikh population in Delhi constitute the middle and upper classes. They are not sending their children to Sikh institutions, which is eroding the tenets of the community among the youth,” said Mr Tarlochan Singh , Vice-Chairman of the National Minorities Commission. He said many Sikh parents were sending their children to public schools as they considered the standard of education being imparted by the community’s schools as below standard. “The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee must take measures to improve the standard of education in the schools run by it. Otherwise, the children of middle and upper classes would go in for public school education, which would affect the community badly in the long term,” he said while addressing a seminar last evening. Expressing concern that the westernisation of Indian culture had resulted in a number of Sikh youth cutting their beard and hair, he said there was an urgent need for the community to view the recent trends among the youth with seriousness and find a way out. The gurdwara politics used to inspire the youth but over the years its politicisation had disenchanted them and they were shying away from entering the community’s political arena. Such shunning of their responsibility to the welfare of the community. would prove to be counter- productive in the coming years., he said. Mr Tarlochan Singh said gurdwaras had now become concrete modern architectural design structures. |
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A diehard fan of
Tribune Mr M.S.Chopra, a 50-year-old engineer has been reading The Tribune for over 25 years. A widely travelled man, thanks to his marketing job, he says, “I feel incomplete without reading my favourite newspaper. Whenever I am travelling the first thing I ask the hotel staff is for a copy of The Tribune.” He added that whenever he is in a city like Jaipur or Agra, he prefers to read the local dailies, since their news coverage is good. Reading The Tribune is a family trait. Mr Chopra’s mother who reads the Punjabi Tribune loses count of time once she perches the reading glasses on her nose. Describing The Tribune as a “complete newspaper”, Mr Chopra adds, “The balanced picture which the paper provides helps one to hold a clear and correct opinion.” Complimenting the edit writers of the paper, Mr Chopra said, “It is essential to read thorough and unbiased editorials. The Tribune needs to be complimented on its quality edits.” He goes on, “I really like the write-ups on the recent incident of sacrilege, which took place in Punjab. None of the leading dailies carried the report. The paper helps us stay connected to Punjab, which generates a sense of belonging.” Mr Chopra welcomes the Delhi edition of the paper and hopes that it will cover the local events to our full satisfaction. “We look forward to a paper, which provides the news accurately,” said the man who confesses that he doesn’t subscribe to the paper but is a regular at the library reading room to go through his favourite paper. Basking in the afternoon sun, the avid reader has some suggestions to offer, “ Keeping in mind the Punjabi populace, the paper should try to help in building ties between the members of this community, through matrimonial columns and reporting the activities which interest the community. I also suggest that gurdwaras in the Capital should be provided with some copies of the paper so that the members of the Sikh and Punjabi communities, who are not accustomed to reading Tribune, can avail of the facility.” |
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In memory of a sufi’s passion Gurdwara Majnu Tila: It is situated on the Khyber Pass Road, Outer Ring Road. On the banks of the Yamuna, there lived a Sufi who led the life of a penitent recluse. So lonely and God-intoxicated was he that he was nicknamed Majnu, the mad lover. When he met Guru Nanak, he felt that he was in the presence of a prophet who gave him a new revelation. He felt the light of God was revealed to him and he was spiritually exalted and illumined. Guru Nanak had many Muslim disciples in Punjab but Majnu was his first Muslim disciple in Delhi, who not only became his outstanding devotee but a great missionary who converted his khandah into a shrine of Guru Nanak which continued to be known after his name Majnu-ka-Tila to this day. |
Three held after
shoot-out New Delhi, October 22 The criminals who were in two vehicles, Maruti and Satro cars, were coming from Haryana side when Maruti was stopped by a police team near a police
picket. While the police were asking the driving licence from of the Maruti car, a Santro car also came stopped behind it. The police personnel was not satisfied with the driving licence showed to him by the driver of the
Maruti car. He asked the driver to come to the police picket. One of the occupants of the vehicle then tried to drive away the car. When challenged, he fired at the policemen. In exchange, police also fired at
him. While the cross-firing was going , the occupants of Santro also drove away the car by firing at the police team. However, nobody was injured.. A sccoterist who was passing by near the police picket got injured. He was admitted to a hospital where he is stated to be out of danger. The arrested criminals were identified as Sandeep
Moni, Sanjay alias Ramesh and Satyavan. |
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Woman found dead
in Punjabi Bagh New Delhi, October 22 Kanchan, a resident of JJ colony in Inderpuri came out of her house at around 9.30 in the morning in search of her husband, Hansraj Sharma, who had been missing for the last 15 days. But soon after, she was found dead under mysterious circumstances with four slit marks on the neck and head
injuries. Hansraj used to work in a vehicle greasing unit in Punjabi
Bagh. Kanchan went to the greasing unit hoping to get some information of her missing husband. Interestingly, Hansraj had returned home today. He told the police that he came to know about Kanchan’s murder through his friend. He also told police that he had gone to
Kandla, Gujarat and was working as a driver. However, police are suspicious of Hansraj and questioning him. Police also picked up five more persons and interrogating them in connection with the murder. In another case, two employees of Shahin Telecom in South Extension, Bhuvan Chand and Jai
Narain, were robbed of Rs 4.5 lakh when they were going to deposit the money in the Oriental Bank of Commerce, in the busy South Extension area, at 11 am today. According to police sources, when the employees came out of their office, two youths on a Yamaha motorcycle threw chilli powder in their eyes and decamped with the bag from the employees. The bag contained the money. A case of robbery has been registered in Kotla Mubarakpur police station. The police are investigating the case. |
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Businessman robbed of car,
money Faridabad, October 22 The victim, Mr Mitish Sharma, a Gurgaon based businessman was in Faridabad in connection with some work. While he was on his way back to Gurgaon via Pali village, four car borne youths intercepted his car about a km from Pali village police post. Mr Sharma told the police that the youths, who had a revolver, asked him to hand over his car and money at gunpoint. A case has been registered. The deteriorating law and order in the city has become a major source of concern. |
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Shahtoosh wool haul in
Delhi New Delhi, October 22 Official sources said Customs authorities at the Indira Gandhi International Airport seized 130 kg of Shahtoosh wool on October four. The consignment had arrived from Singapore and China was mentioned as the country of origin. The Department of Revenue Intelligence, on a tip off, had seized a consignment of 100 kg of the banned item from the New Delhi railway station on September 27, the sources added. The wool had its origin at Jaigaon in Bihar on the Indo-Nepal border. Both consignments were meant to be delivered in Jammu and Kashmir for being woven into shahtoosh shawls. Shahtoosh wool is made by killing `Chiru’ or Tibetan antelopes. |
Delhi Govt slashes tax on
toys New Delhi, October 22 The Cabinet meeting chaired by the Chief Minister, Ms Sheila Dikshit, has fixed the honorarium for Anganwadi workers and helpers at Rs 700 and Rs 360 per month, respectively. While the honorarium for Anganwadi workers has been raised by Rs 200 per month, the helpers stand to gain Rs 100 a month. The Cabinet also decided to reduce the sales tax on imported toys (other than electronic toys) from 12 per cent to eight per cent. According to officials in the Sales Tax Department, the move is aimed at checking evasion and illegal transactions. A higher sales tax in Delhi meant differential pricing of toys as compared to the neighbouring states of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. The department had noticed smuggling of these items from Noida and Gurgaon as a consequence. By reducing the sales tax on imported toys, the government hopes to check further the revenue loss. Meanwhile, the Delhi Government on Monday rewarded 140 of the 1,719 traders for having made sales tax contributions to the
tune of over Rs 1 lakh annually either this year or for the past three years. At a function hosted at the New Secretariat on Monday, Finance Minister MS Saathi said that revenue accruing to the government by way of sales tax was showing an
uptrend. He attributed this to the confidence reposed by the trading community in the ST department. |
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“There is no work for me in Delhi. If I decide to make a serial I am unable to get financers and producers,” he maintained.