Tuesday, July 24, 2018
Friday, March 30, 2018
Passerby shades
Wide and tall, it witnesses many souls around
Scared thread across, it encompasses mortals heir
Withering in storm, it is passerby shades
Standing alone, it live to see lives many
Pond beside, is filled with nature gifts
The bosoms around, are never passionately looked upon
Children plays entire day, none to scold and call on
Concerns never drown anyone, all happy and gay
Fresh and clean, the pond is life of the lives surround
Festive is in the air, blessed with internal bliss
The baby goats run on the mound, tired, sit under the tree
Mound guards the pond from all sides, is the evening place
Villagers working in town, rush to sit around till dusk
They watch their cattle graze, coming from far on their own
Few remains till midnight, to watch the fireflies dance
At first light of morn, the birds sing their song
With spring, its leaves are back again
Sheds it few branches, gives space for new chain
Dry not any more, the peepal tree is alight and live
New faces all over, many lives just arrive
Saturday, March 24, 2018
You groped her, You are Lutyens’ police
You groped her though you took oath to save her
You tore her apart, promising to protect her
You raped the honour, the dignity, the innocence, she wore
Wearing Khaki, you breached the trust bestowed upon you
You tore her apart, promising to protect her
You raped the honour, the dignity, the innocence, she wore
Wearing Khaki, you breached the trust bestowed upon you
What was her fault, what was she doing
Standing far way, she was just holding a pen, a note book
Busy taking notes about the incident, while on duty
Neither she asked for anything nor she made any complaint
Quietly she capturing the act of violence in words and in lens
She was there, every was aware, and it was her right
You realized situation went out of your hand
You found her standing alone, weak
You ran towards her staring at her chest
Busy taking notes about the incident, while on duty
Neither she asked for anything nor she made any complaint
Quietly she capturing the act of violence in words and in lens
She was there, every was aware, and it was her right
You realized situation went out of your hand
You found her standing alone, weak
You ran towards her staring at her chest
You pressed her right breast and pushed her back
Agast! She saw herself then beaten
Not by just one, but by several others
When looked around, another fellow was also down
Surrounded by dozen of Khaki puppets, she was in tears and pain
Holding her breath, she kept begging to spare her
When she almost lost her breath, she was left alone
Agast! She saw herself then beaten
Not by just one, but by several others
When looked around, another fellow was also down
Surrounded by dozen of Khaki puppets, she was in tears and pain
Holding her breath, she kept begging to spare her
When she almost lost her breath, she was left alone
You in pride, your masters gave a pat on the arm
You did a great job, would be recommended for awards
You paid a lot to be where you are
You did a great job, would be recommended for awards
You paid a lot to be where you are
You are a brave heart, you are Lutyens’ police
-- Sumit Kumar Singh
-- Sumit Kumar Singh
Sunday, March 05, 2017
The eyes I remember every moment of my life
The eyes I remember every moment of my life,
the eyes that keep me awake every second,
the eyes I am dying to encounter it again,
the eyes that speak speechlessly to me,
the eyes that haunt me in the crowd,
the eyes that shiver my spine,
the eyes that make me complete,
the eyes that I am scared of,
the eyes that took away me from myself,
the eyes that reflected the angelic rays…
Now left me all alone
Wednesday, October 05, 2016
Friends for ever
When winds were blowing,
We were holding each other's hand,
We were holding each other's hand,
When it was raining, we were drenched,
Laughing at each other,
Laughing at each other,
The sky was roaring, exposing us,
The trees were laughing, hinting us,
The flowers were smiling, ignoring us,
The sea waves were scaring, drowning us,
When things were bad,
We felt for each other,
We felt for each other,
When days were gone,
We missed for each other.
Saturday, September 26, 2015
Every day, I wonder this is what I wanted
Every day I wonder, this is want I wanted
Thinking of reply, I always get restive
The more I muse, The more I get blank
And truth remains same, I don’t want any more
Walking on streets while my heart is somewhere away
Going to office, and leading indiscipline disciplined life
Meeting acquaintances and engrossed in daily chores
Amidst the callousness and everything seems colorful
Talking and chanting, days, months and years go by
Heartedly kicking and running, fighting for own space
Sink with all and fly with some, it’s all time event
Going down, again climbing, is what we see around
Pushing, coercing the great master teaches to live with
The world around looks to be divine place to go on
When no one is around longing for left out is no more
It is all black and you are no more what you are
No more, I wonder want I wanted to be
I think no more, I am no more restive
It’s all blank and I can’t see what I have to
Long lost, now no ways left to find what I want
Saturday, August 01, 2015
Drug abuse by Children in Delhi
Children are falling prey to drugs menace in Delhi. Over 70,000 children live on the capital’s streets and overwhelming majority of them addicted to different kinds of drugs - from smack, brown sugar to cannabis. If they are unable to get these slightly high priced drugs, the worst follows. They start consuming inhalants like ink eraser fluid, petrol, iodex and glue or go for pharmaceuticals drugs like tablets, cough syrups and injections. This is leading to a new trend in the national capital. The children are found taking cocktails of drugs through injections and often sharing the same needle which increases their vulnerability to HIV infection.
Maneka Sanjay Gandhi, Union Minister of Women and Child Development, in a reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha on July 23 stated that her ministry has not made any estimate about the number of street children in Delhi. However, a rapid assessment survey of children on city streets carried out by Don Bosco National Forum for the Young at Risk – a forum working on street children and youngsters -- has come to the notice of the government. As per the aforesaid survey, the number of street children in New Delhi is 69,976.
“69,976 are living on streets in Delhi and out of it, majority to them are into substance abuse,” Father Koshy Thomas, the Executive Director, Don Bosco National Forum for the Young at Risk, said. He said they did a study and submitted it to Union Ministry of Women in Child Development in 2013.
Witnessing that the crime committed by children in a bid to satisfy the urge drugs is growing at large scale in the national capital, the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) carried about a detailed study on the “Substance Abuse by Children in Delhi” in June this year, however, they too did not had the estimated figures of children subject to drug abuse in Delhi.
The commission, carried out survey, of Children in need of care and protections, who are living in child care institutions, Children in Conflicts with Law, living in Observation Homes and Children living in community and streets, who are coming to Open Shelters off and on.
As per the study, the average age of children consuming substance is 13.7 years. It is found that 100 percent of children in conflict with law are drug abuser, 95.5 percent of children staying in child care institutions are drug abuser and 93 percent on street are consuming drugs. “Highest number of children consuming drugs is school drop outs,” the report stated. Interestingly, the study also states that 88 percent of children got addicted to drugs due to “peer pressure”. One of the shocking figure states that 57 percent of street children is consuming drugs for more than five years. “Cannabis and inhalants are highest abusing substances by street children,” stated the report adding that 56 percent of street children are shows willingness to quit habit of substance abuse.
Several other studies have been conducted to find out the harmful impact of substance on children and other associated problems. In one such study in 2008 conducted by a non government organization CHETNA, there are around 1.5 lakh to 2 lakh street children in the capital and almost 80 percent of them are involved in substance abuse.
In 2011, another non-government organization Bachpan Bachao Andolan carried out a survey and found that 50,000 children lives on the street and majority of them are into substance abuse.
The Department of Women and Child Development of Delhi Government made a note of the figure stated by these organisations and decided to carry out a complete mapping of the national capital to get the clear picture of exact numbers children involved drugs. The department is process to give the task to a professor Dr Anju Dhawan of All India Institute of Medical Sciences to carry out a detailed study in this regards.
Assistant Director at Department of Women and Child Development S C Vats said, “Around 90 percent of children living on city streets are consuming substance abuse. So we have planned to carry out exact assessment of the problem.” The officer said that places like Yamuna Bazar, Red Fort, Chandani Chowk, Jama Masjid, Connaught Place, Railway Stations and Bus stops and depots, East and North East Delhi Pusta roads, Slums clusters in Jahangirpuri and Nand Nagri are filled with children living on stress and consuming drugs.
Till date, the department had been receiving around five to six calls per day from parents or family members of the children and college students about their son or daughter suffering from drugs addicts or call from people about children residing on the city streets consuming drugs.
Recently, mother of a 14-year-old Vikram Kumar (name changed) called Department of Women and Child Development of Delhi Government and sought information about de-addiction centers in Delhi.
Two months ago, Vikram Kumar started behaving oddly. Normally quite a talkative boy, Vikram, started keeping to himself. On returning home from school, he would straight go to his room and remain locked there for hours at a stretch. Two months ago, his mother, an IT professional received a call from the counsellor at Vikram’s school in central Delhi. The counsellor told her that Vikran has become unresponsive in class. One day Vikram was out, the mother searched his room and found three empty bottles of white solvent in his school bag. She called the counsellor and told her that his son was into substance abuse.
Vikram is not the only one. Many children belong from high-end as well as from lower-end income family background have become victim of substance abuse in Delhi, apart from street children. While some of these children are rehabilitated and detoxified, many take to crime to meet their urge for drugs.
On July 18, two children were apprehended along with four others for committing gruesome murder of two brothers, including a security guard, and robbery at the Delhi United Christian Senior Secondary School near Raj Niwas. These children were street kids and were drug addicts and they came in contact with four small time petty criminals, who were also drug addicts. On July 14, when these people and children were unable to get rob any victim ISBT Kashmiri Gate, one of the apprehended juvenile suggested that they can get a good sum of money by burgling the cash chest located in the Principal’s office of this school. This juvenile had been associated with the school in past and he knew its topography. All of them went inside, killed the security guard and his brother and robbed Rs 24,000.
Similarly, on July 20, a juvenile was apprehended for assault and murder of a gardener at abandoned farm house in Fatehpur Beri He used to work in beverage godown in Fatehpur Beri and during night hours used to stay inside the farmhouse. On July 20, he came and demanded money from security guard of the farm house. When he refused, the juvenile started abusing them which led to a scuffle. During scuffle, the boy picked up one empty beer bottle lying nearby and assaulted the security guard on his head repeatedly, who fell down, the boy snatched mobile phone and ran away from spot. After he was arrested, the police came to know that the boy was asking money from the security guards for drugs.
The chair person of DCPCR Arun Mathur said, “The substance abuse by children is a matter of concern and need to be addressed on immediate basis. But first of all we have to analyze the size and dimension of the problems and then can the government come up with a solution.”
Maneka Sanjay Gandhi, Union Minister of Women and Child Development, in a reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha on July 23 stated that her ministry has not made any estimate about the number of street children in Delhi. However, a rapid assessment survey of children on city streets carried out by Don Bosco National Forum for the Young at Risk – a forum working on street children and youngsters -- has come to the notice of the government. As per the aforesaid survey, the number of street children in New Delhi is 69,976.
“69,976 are living on streets in Delhi and out of it, majority to them are into substance abuse,” Father Koshy Thomas, the Executive Director, Don Bosco National Forum for the Young at Risk, said. He said they did a study and submitted it to Union Ministry of Women in Child Development in 2013.
Witnessing that the crime committed by children in a bid to satisfy the urge drugs is growing at large scale in the national capital, the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) carried about a detailed study on the “Substance Abuse by Children in Delhi” in June this year, however, they too did not had the estimated figures of children subject to drug abuse in Delhi.
The commission, carried out survey, of Children in need of care and protections, who are living in child care institutions, Children in Conflicts with Law, living in Observation Homes and Children living in community and streets, who are coming to Open Shelters off and on.
As per the study, the average age of children consuming substance is 13.7 years. It is found that 100 percent of children in conflict with law are drug abuser, 95.5 percent of children staying in child care institutions are drug abuser and 93 percent on street are consuming drugs. “Highest number of children consuming drugs is school drop outs,” the report stated. Interestingly, the study also states that 88 percent of children got addicted to drugs due to “peer pressure”. One of the shocking figure states that 57 percent of street children is consuming drugs for more than five years. “Cannabis and inhalants are highest abusing substances by street children,” stated the report adding that 56 percent of street children are shows willingness to quit habit of substance abuse.
Several other studies have been conducted to find out the harmful impact of substance on children and other associated problems. In one such study in 2008 conducted by a non government organization CHETNA, there are around 1.5 lakh to 2 lakh street children in the capital and almost 80 percent of them are involved in substance abuse.
In 2011, another non-government organization Bachpan Bachao Andolan carried out a survey and found that 50,000 children lives on the street and majority of them are into substance abuse.
The Department of Women and Child Development of Delhi Government made a note of the figure stated by these organisations and decided to carry out a complete mapping of the national capital to get the clear picture of exact numbers children involved drugs. The department is process to give the task to a professor Dr Anju Dhawan of All India Institute of Medical Sciences to carry out a detailed study in this regards.
Assistant Director at Department of Women and Child Development S C Vats said, “Around 90 percent of children living on city streets are consuming substance abuse. So we have planned to carry out exact assessment of the problem.” The officer said that places like Yamuna Bazar, Red Fort, Chandani Chowk, Jama Masjid, Connaught Place, Railway Stations and Bus stops and depots, East and North East Delhi Pusta roads, Slums clusters in Jahangirpuri and Nand Nagri are filled with children living on stress and consuming drugs.
Till date, the department had been receiving around five to six calls per day from parents or family members of the children and college students about their son or daughter suffering from drugs addicts or call from people about children residing on the city streets consuming drugs.
Recently, mother of a 14-year-old Vikram Kumar (name changed) called Department of Women and Child Development of Delhi Government and sought information about de-addiction centers in Delhi.
Two months ago, Vikram Kumar started behaving oddly. Normally quite a talkative boy, Vikram, started keeping to himself. On returning home from school, he would straight go to his room and remain locked there for hours at a stretch. Two months ago, his mother, an IT professional received a call from the counsellor at Vikram’s school in central Delhi. The counsellor told her that Vikran has become unresponsive in class. One day Vikram was out, the mother searched his room and found three empty bottles of white solvent in his school bag. She called the counsellor and told her that his son was into substance abuse.
Vikram is not the only one. Many children belong from high-end as well as from lower-end income family background have become victim of substance abuse in Delhi, apart from street children. While some of these children are rehabilitated and detoxified, many take to crime to meet their urge for drugs.
On July 18, two children were apprehended along with four others for committing gruesome murder of two brothers, including a security guard, and robbery at the Delhi United Christian Senior Secondary School near Raj Niwas. These children were street kids and were drug addicts and they came in contact with four small time petty criminals, who were also drug addicts. On July 14, when these people and children were unable to get rob any victim ISBT Kashmiri Gate, one of the apprehended juvenile suggested that they can get a good sum of money by burgling the cash chest located in the Principal’s office of this school. This juvenile had been associated with the school in past and he knew its topography. All of them went inside, killed the security guard and his brother and robbed Rs 24,000.
Similarly, on July 20, a juvenile was apprehended for assault and murder of a gardener at abandoned farm house in Fatehpur Beri He used to work in beverage godown in Fatehpur Beri and during night hours used to stay inside the farmhouse. On July 20, he came and demanded money from security guard of the farm house. When he refused, the juvenile started abusing them which led to a scuffle. During scuffle, the boy picked up one empty beer bottle lying nearby and assaulted the security guard on his head repeatedly, who fell down, the boy snatched mobile phone and ran away from spot. After he was arrested, the police came to know that the boy was asking money from the security guards for drugs.
The chair person of DCPCR Arun Mathur said, “The substance abuse by children is a matter of concern and need to be addressed on immediate basis. But first of all we have to analyze the size and dimension of the problems and then can the government come up with a solution.”
Mathur also said that the state government should carry out mapping of the children affected by the substance abuse and assessment of the nature of the menace. “It should also found out where in national capital the children are more prone to the drugs. Thereafter, the government can think of de-addiction and rehabilitations,” he said.
In 2013, the Department of Women and Child Welfare and Directorate of Education had identified 98 government schools as vulnerable, where instances of substance abuse were observed or were located in localities that facilitate abuse. The government has drawn up a list of 250 schools, including 152 run by Municipal Corporations, in areas such as Mehrauli, Chhatarpur, Badarpur, Mahipalpur, Rohini, Civil Lines, Jahangirpuri, Old Delhi, Seelampur and Sultanpuri. The study was carried after they received several complaints that drugs were easily sold outside the school premises.
Crime
This year, three students aged between 12 and 14 of government school confessed that for last one year they were involved in thefts and were buying drugs. One of the three children, on February 2 was found unconscious state on a street near his home in East Delhi. The neighbour informed the student’s parents and during inquiry, he confessed that he was consuming drugs for last two years along with the two friends and have started committing crime. Last year, the Delhi Police received a complaint that children who take drugs in the open can create a menace for women and all other people passing by the area in Connaught Place in the heart of the national capital. The police identified 24 children in Connaught Place area and they were subsequently sent to Children Home.
How the drug peddlers operates
The drug peddlers generally operate in nearby slum clusters adjoining prominent schools and colleges and their main target is to entrap the students. They first lure students, who smokes cigarette, to consume drugs almost free of cost and when they get addicts, they asked them to join their group and force them to sell drugs to their classmates and school mates. Once “drug-addict student” agrees to sell contrabands to his classmate – new student, the main drug peddlers then tries to entrap this student. They will call him over the phone posing as police officers and will threaten to him of arresting him and exposing him in front of the school and parents. In fear, the student agrees to meet the drug peddler. During meeting, the drug peddler starts extorting money on monthly basis depending on the background of the student. They also force the student to sell drugs to girls. Later, these drug peddlers entrap the girls in prostitution and flesh trade. Such incidents are happening outside few prominent schools and colleges in the national capital.
Comorbidity in Substance abuse
The substance abuse is a mental health concern. The report indicates that children have a higher risk of developing mental disorder. Conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, depression, anxiety disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are generally disorders found among the children consuming drugs. Apart from that, needle sharing among injectable drug users increases their vulnerability towards HIV infection.
Government schemes
The government is taking several measures to prevent substance abuse by children including services for rehabilitation of addicts. However, rehabilitation mechanism for substance abusing children is a grey and neglected area. “There is not a single de-addiction for the children specific in the national capital,” said Mathur. In Delhi there are seven government detoxification centres and only four non government organizations – Manav Propkari Sansthan, Samaj Sewa Sangh, Bhartiya Parivarthan Sansthan and Society for promotion of Youth and masses -- are being approved and financed by the government to run such centers. However, these centers are not children specific and they have to be exposed to adults’ treatment.
The child and welfare department requested Delhi Health Services to open detoxification centres ate government hospitals for children but it was turned down citing that hospitals are already in under pressure due to massive footfall and lack of beds.
However, government claims that they are rigorously implementing the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 which prohibits selling of tobacco products to person below the age of 18 years and in places within 100 metre radius from the outer boundary of an institution of education, which includes school colleges and institutions of higher learning established or recognized by an appropriate authority.
The Women and Child Development ministry is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme - Integrated Child Protection Scheme -- for children in difficult circumstances, including children who are victims of substance abuse. Under this scheme, financial assistance is provided to state governments and union territories administrations for setting up and maintenance of various types of Homes, including, Shelter Homes, Open shelters. These homes provide inter-alia, shelter, food, education, medical attention, vocational training and counseling to such children so that they can ultimately reintegrate into the mainstream society.
ENDS
In 2013, the Department of Women and Child Welfare and Directorate of Education had identified 98 government schools as vulnerable, where instances of substance abuse were observed or were located in localities that facilitate abuse. The government has drawn up a list of 250 schools, including 152 run by Municipal Corporations, in areas such as Mehrauli, Chhatarpur, Badarpur, Mahipalpur, Rohini, Civil Lines, Jahangirpuri, Old Delhi, Seelampur and Sultanpuri. The study was carried after they received several complaints that drugs were easily sold outside the school premises.
Crime
This year, three students aged between 12 and 14 of government school confessed that for last one year they were involved in thefts and were buying drugs. One of the three children, on February 2 was found unconscious state on a street near his home in East Delhi. The neighbour informed the student’s parents and during inquiry, he confessed that he was consuming drugs for last two years along with the two friends and have started committing crime. Last year, the Delhi Police received a complaint that children who take drugs in the open can create a menace for women and all other people passing by the area in Connaught Place in the heart of the national capital. The police identified 24 children in Connaught Place area and they were subsequently sent to Children Home.
How the drug peddlers operates
The drug peddlers generally operate in nearby slum clusters adjoining prominent schools and colleges and their main target is to entrap the students. They first lure students, who smokes cigarette, to consume drugs almost free of cost and when they get addicts, they asked them to join their group and force them to sell drugs to their classmates and school mates. Once “drug-addict student” agrees to sell contrabands to his classmate – new student, the main drug peddlers then tries to entrap this student. They will call him over the phone posing as police officers and will threaten to him of arresting him and exposing him in front of the school and parents. In fear, the student agrees to meet the drug peddler. During meeting, the drug peddler starts extorting money on monthly basis depending on the background of the student. They also force the student to sell drugs to girls. Later, these drug peddlers entrap the girls in prostitution and flesh trade. Such incidents are happening outside few prominent schools and colleges in the national capital.
Comorbidity in Substance abuse
The substance abuse is a mental health concern. The report indicates that children have a higher risk of developing mental disorder. Conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, depression, anxiety disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are generally disorders found among the children consuming drugs. Apart from that, needle sharing among injectable drug users increases their vulnerability towards HIV infection.
Government schemes
The government is taking several measures to prevent substance abuse by children including services for rehabilitation of addicts. However, rehabilitation mechanism for substance abusing children is a grey and neglected area. “There is not a single de-addiction for the children specific in the national capital,” said Mathur. In Delhi there are seven government detoxification centres and only four non government organizations – Manav Propkari Sansthan, Samaj Sewa Sangh, Bhartiya Parivarthan Sansthan and Society for promotion of Youth and masses -- are being approved and financed by the government to run such centers. However, these centers are not children specific and they have to be exposed to adults’ treatment.
The child and welfare department requested Delhi Health Services to open detoxification centres ate government hospitals for children but it was turned down citing that hospitals are already in under pressure due to massive footfall and lack of beds.
However, government claims that they are rigorously implementing the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 which prohibits selling of tobacco products to person below the age of 18 years and in places within 100 metre radius from the outer boundary of an institution of education, which includes school colleges and institutions of higher learning established or recognized by an appropriate authority.
The Women and Child Development ministry is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme - Integrated Child Protection Scheme -- for children in difficult circumstances, including children who are victims of substance abuse. Under this scheme, financial assistance is provided to state governments and union territories administrations for setting up and maintenance of various types of Homes, including, Shelter Homes, Open shelters. These homes provide inter-alia, shelter, food, education, medical attention, vocational training and counseling to such children so that they can ultimately reintegrate into the mainstream society.
ENDS
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Where are we heading. Think
On Thursday the 22nd May 2014, at around 10:00 PM, a woman, hailing from Nagaland was molested near the Vishwavidyalaya Metro Station When the victim resisted him and tried to catch hold of him, the accused also slapped her. Few people, who saw this incident, overpowered the molester and handed him over to the police. At the police station it was revealed that the accused is a lawyer practicing at Tis Hazari Court. The NSUD president was then informed about the incident and he assisted the victim in the police station. An FIR was registered. The Accused was taken into police custody.
On the next day the accused was produced before the Magistrate Mrs. Mona .T. Karketta, Ld. M.M (Room No- 273). The victim was accompanied by the NSUD President with two of his executives as an expression of solidarity with her. The victim was represented by a lawyer appointed by Delhi Legal Services Authority. The accused and his group of advocates practicing at Tis Hazari Court started to taunt/intimidate/harass and passed remarks to the victim and her friends and also to the lady lawyer representing her. There was a huge pandemonium in the court room with 10/20 lawyers threatening/intimidating the victim, her lawyer and others who were with the victim.
The NSUD President was slapped in front of the Ld Magistrate unprovoked by one of the friend of the accused lawyers while the hearing was going on. The police and the Court officials intervened but no action was taken by the Magistrate and the Police personal present at that moment against the assaulters. Fearing the safety of the victim and her own security, the DSLA lawyer called another DSLA lawyer Ms. Liyi for support in the hostile atmosphere. On her arrival, Adv. Ms Liyi was also threatened by the mob of lawyers. The victim and her lawyer were moved to another Court for safety to record the statement of the victim while the mob continued to swell in the court room.
The police personnel came to the rescue and escorted Adv Liyi and victim’s friends out of the court room. This did not deter the violent and belligerent group of lawyers who followed them by using racial abuses/derogatory remarks and life threatening languages with the intention to physically harm them. Since, the lawyers continued to follow and threaten them, the police took them to the police chowki of Tis Hazari Court for their safety, and made them sit until the mob (Lawyers) disperse. It is important to note that those who were accompanying the victim were targeted only because they were helping a victim of molestation to get justice.
The mob tried to intimidate the police personnel to withdraw their protection. However, after few minutes of waiting at the Police Chowki, police told Advocate Liyi and the victim’s friends that it is safe to leave the Police Chowki. As they left the Chowki there was a mob that was waiting to attack and assault them.
All of them started to run to save their lives as the mob of advocates who are friends of the accused started chasing them saying that they will not allow Northeastern people to go alive from here today.
Even the lady Advocate Liyi accompanying them was not spared by the mob of lawyers as she was chased and slapped until two Police constables rescued her from any further harm being inflicted on her.
Simultaneous with these happening in the premises of the court, another unfortunate incident was taking place outside the court room. The Zeliangrong Students’ Union President had also come to the court to attend the hearing of the above stated case, he along with his friends were not allowed to enter the court room and hence they were sitting outside.
A lawyer approached him, asking if his other North Eastern friends are joining them. As soon as he answered yes, a mob of about 20/30 advocates attacked him physically. The mob or Lawyers attacked, slapped, kicked and stamped on him. His ears and nose were bleeding. Even the policeman who dared to protect them was also beaten up. The attached photograph is a testimony to this brutal assault on him.
The molestation and the criminal intimidation and assault on the people of North East States is an attack having racial contours and calls for strict and immediate action by the judiciary and law enforcing agency to protect the vulnerable groups. The conduct of this lawyer and the mob of lawyers supporting him have showed absolute disregard for the judicial process and contempt of the Court.
Besides the assault on fellow lady advocates for the victim to deter and intimidate victims from taking legal recourse should not be tolerated by the judiciary and law administration. If lawyers are not safe in the Courts, then it is a very poor reflection on the state of judicial administration.
Where are we heading and what kind of society is this? There are hundreds of more brutal cases across India unreported. Think
Friday, April 11, 2014
Nirbhaya parents lashes out against SP chief
Reacting strongly on Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and his party leader Abu Azmi comment over rape victims, parents of December 16 brutal gang rape victim said that these people have lost their senses and people should reject such kind of politicians.
“It is very sad to know that elected representatives are saying so. If senior politician like him (Mulayam Singh Yadav) makes such outrageous comments then it’s worrying,” said Nirbhaya’s father.
He said that he was shocked to hear Yadav’s comment that boys commit mistakes by raping girl but they should not hang for rape. “They should not have said so and but by saying this, they are supporting people who are committing crime against women and minor girls,” he said
He questioned him and said that ‘what kind of society he want?’. “If he do not have respect for girls, who are almost equal in numbers compare to boys in society, how can he expect women voting for such a person,” said he adding that the safety of women is at stake because of leaders like him.
He urged people not to vote for him or his party who is supporting crime against women. “If people with such honor speak like this, what will happen to our nation? We appeal to the people of the nation to only vote for people who have security of women on their top priority,” he added.
Yadav during a rally in Uttar Pradesh’s Moradabad spoke on issue of three men being given death sentence in Mumbai for raping a photo journalist. He had said, “Boys and girls ....later they had differences, and the girl went and gave a statement that I have been raped. And then the poor fellows, three of them have been sentenced to death. Should rape cases lead to hanging? Boys are boys, they make mistakes. Two or three have been given the death sentence in Mumbai. We will try and change such laws. We will also ensure punishment of those who report false cases.”
Similarly, Yadav’s party men Azmi, told to a media person, “Rape is punishable by hanging in Islam. But here, nothing happens to women, only to men. Even the woman is guilty. Any woman if, whether married or unmarried, goes along with a man, with or without her consent, should be hanged. Both should be hanged.”
ENDS
“It is very sad to know that elected representatives are saying so. If senior politician like him (Mulayam Singh Yadav) makes such outrageous comments then it’s worrying,” said Nirbhaya’s father.
He said that he was shocked to hear Yadav’s comment that boys commit mistakes by raping girl but they should not hang for rape. “They should not have said so and but by saying this, they are supporting people who are committing crime against women and minor girls,” he said
He questioned him and said that ‘what kind of society he want?’. “If he do not have respect for girls, who are almost equal in numbers compare to boys in society, how can he expect women voting for such a person,” said he adding that the safety of women is at stake because of leaders like him.
He urged people not to vote for him or his party who is supporting crime against women. “If people with such honor speak like this, what will happen to our nation? We appeal to the people of the nation to only vote for people who have security of women on their top priority,” he added.
Yadav during a rally in Uttar Pradesh’s Moradabad spoke on issue of three men being given death sentence in Mumbai for raping a photo journalist. He had said, “Boys and girls ....later they had differences, and the girl went and gave a statement that I have been raped. And then the poor fellows, three of them have been sentenced to death. Should rape cases lead to hanging? Boys are boys, they make mistakes. Two or three have been given the death sentence in Mumbai. We will try and change such laws. We will also ensure punishment of those who report false cases.”
Similarly, Yadav’s party men Azmi, told to a media person, “Rape is punishable by hanging in Islam. But here, nothing happens to women, only to men. Even the woman is guilty. Any woman if, whether married or unmarried, goes along with a man, with or without her consent, should be hanged. Both should be hanged.”
ENDS
People from all walks of life came out to cast their vote
Around 80 lakh people came out in the national capital to cast their vote to change the system and teach a lesson to the people who are responsible for bad governance. People aged between 18 years to 104 came to their polling booth with lots of excitement and enthusiasm. A few wants women security and a few a stable government, every one has their own reasons to vote.
Largely in Delhi it was cleaner, more orderly and more efficient election.
Sourav Mukherjee, a retired government servant of Chittaranjan Park in the New Delhi constituency said,
“Things were much more orderly in this election compared to previous polls. I was happy to see neat and orderly polling booths as well.”
There were fewer complaints of missing names in voter lists and of bad facilities or response of poll staff and police.
In a few polling stations in East Delhi constituency, the senior citizens had to walk around 200 meters from the gate to cast their ballots as parking was not allowed near the polling booth. “I had to walk a bit to reach from the entrance gate as the traffic cops did not allow our car to enter,” A K Choudary, resident of Mayur Vihar said.
People carrying phones faced problems when they were not allowed to enter the polling booths. It was various parties polling agents who helped them out by carrying their phones outside the booths.
“We have to frisk and check the voters to ensure no one carries mobile phones to the polling booth. We know people will face problems but for security reasons we have to do so,” said a police officer outside east Delhi polling booth.
But in few upscale colonies checking was lax and a few voters managed to get in with their mobile phones.
Youngsters voted to vent out their anger against the present government. Anupama Kumari, a resident of North East Delhi Lok Sabha seat and voted for first time said, “Since last ten years, current UPA government has promised several times that inflation would be controlled in next few months but nothing has changed in last ten years. Prices of all the essential household commodities have skyrocketed and government has failed to control it,” she said.
Many came out to with sheer pride to flaunt their inked finger among his friends and others. “Most of my friends are posting their picture after casting their vote on social media. Being a first time voters I also used the opportunity to flaunt my inked finger on social media among my friends,” said Vipul Rastogi, 18 years old student of Delhi University.
Among Delhi’s voters there were many from northeastern states, who had come here to work or study, who voted with women's security on their minds. “We want to choose a stable government but also want an environment that is safer for women from our states," Debanish, 29, who hails from Manipur, said.
The voters of Jamia Nagar area of east Delhi constituency, a Muslim dominated area, exercised their franchise to remove the tag of ‘terrorists den’ and for justice in Batla House encounter case. Heavy footfall was seen at the polling booths from early morning in the area. From students to ladies in Burqa, everyone was seen standing in the queues to cast their votes.
“In logon ne humare ilake ko bewajah badnaam kar rakha hai. Hum is baar ek aise leader ke liye vote karenge to Jamia Nagar ko insaaf dilaye or iske upar lage daag mita sake. (Some people have defamed this area unnecessarily. This time we are going to vote for a leader who can bring justice to Jamia Nagar),” said Asdar Ali, a resident of the area.
ENDS
Largely in Delhi it was cleaner, more orderly and more efficient election.
Sourav Mukherjee, a retired government servant of Chittaranjan Park in the New Delhi constituency said,
“Things were much more orderly in this election compared to previous polls. I was happy to see neat and orderly polling booths as well.”
There were fewer complaints of missing names in voter lists and of bad facilities or response of poll staff and police.
In a few polling stations in East Delhi constituency, the senior citizens had to walk around 200 meters from the gate to cast their ballots as parking was not allowed near the polling booth. “I had to walk a bit to reach from the entrance gate as the traffic cops did not allow our car to enter,” A K Choudary, resident of Mayur Vihar said.
People carrying phones faced problems when they were not allowed to enter the polling booths. It was various parties polling agents who helped them out by carrying their phones outside the booths.
“We have to frisk and check the voters to ensure no one carries mobile phones to the polling booth. We know people will face problems but for security reasons we have to do so,” said a police officer outside east Delhi polling booth.
But in few upscale colonies checking was lax and a few voters managed to get in with their mobile phones.
Youngsters voted to vent out their anger against the present government. Anupama Kumari, a resident of North East Delhi Lok Sabha seat and voted for first time said, “Since last ten years, current UPA government has promised several times that inflation would be controlled in next few months but nothing has changed in last ten years. Prices of all the essential household commodities have skyrocketed and government has failed to control it,” she said.
Many came out to with sheer pride to flaunt their inked finger among his friends and others. “Most of my friends are posting their picture after casting their vote on social media. Being a first time voters I also used the opportunity to flaunt my inked finger on social media among my friends,” said Vipul Rastogi, 18 years old student of Delhi University.
Among Delhi’s voters there were many from northeastern states, who had come here to work or study, who voted with women's security on their minds. “We want to choose a stable government but also want an environment that is safer for women from our states," Debanish, 29, who hails from Manipur, said.
The voters of Jamia Nagar area of east Delhi constituency, a Muslim dominated area, exercised their franchise to remove the tag of ‘terrorists den’ and for justice in Batla House encounter case. Heavy footfall was seen at the polling booths from early morning in the area. From students to ladies in Burqa, everyone was seen standing in the queues to cast their votes.
“In logon ne humare ilake ko bewajah badnaam kar rakha hai. Hum is baar ek aise leader ke liye vote karenge to Jamia Nagar ko insaaf dilaye or iske upar lage daag mita sake. (Some people have defamed this area unnecessarily. This time we are going to vote for a leader who can bring justice to Jamia Nagar),” said Asdar Ali, a resident of the area.
ENDS
Wednesday, April 09, 2014
Delhi gears up for polls, EC asks voters to avoid mobile phones at booths
The city electoral office claimed on Tuesday to have completed the preparations for parliamentary elections in Delhi, slated for April 10.
The chief electoral officer Vijay Dev requested the voters to practise their right of voting and told them to leave their mobile phones outside the polling booths.
Polling will be held at 11,763 polling stations in which 327 have been declared critical and 90 have been declared hyper critical. About 50,000 security personnel have been deployed for election duty. A total of 161 flying squads have been deployed, one for each police station in Delhi.
“The time of voting has been extended for two hours and it will be held from 7 AM to 6 PM on April 10,” Dev said.
For the first time in Delhi, people who do not have an Electoral Photo Identity Card can exercise their franchise if their names are registered in the electoral list.
Besides EPIC, 11 other photo identity documents including passport, driving license, service identity card issued by Central and state governments, PAN card, Aadhar card and Smart card issued by RGI under NPR can be used by the voters. Health insurance smart card issued by Ministry of Labour, MNREGA job card, pension document with photograph and authenticated photovoter slip issued by the election can also be used to establish the identity.
“In 2009 Lok Sabha polls, the overall voting percentage stood at 52.3 per cent, which increased to 66 per cent in the 2013 Delhi assembly election,” Dev said here in a press conference.
There are total 1.27 crore registered voters in Delhi out of which 3.37 lakh are first timers.
For the government employees on election duty, the panel has issued 43,383 election duty certificates so that they can cast their votes. About 25,897 postal ballots have been issued for police personnel 3,478 have been issued to civil servants on election duty for voting.
The poll panel has set up 88 check points at the entry and exit roads in bordering areas of Delhi.
So far 21 FIRs have been registered against BJP, 18 against AAP and 17 against the Congress party for violation of model code of conduct.
“Around 93 unlicensed firearms have been seized. Some 647 licensed firearms have been submitted to the police. More than Rs 43 lakh have been seized,” said Dev adding that the police have also seized a total of 25,776 litres of Indian and foreign made liquors.
ENDS
The chief electoral officer Vijay Dev requested the voters to practise their right of voting and told them to leave their mobile phones outside the polling booths.
Polling will be held at 11,763 polling stations in which 327 have been declared critical and 90 have been declared hyper critical. About 50,000 security personnel have been deployed for election duty. A total of 161 flying squads have been deployed, one for each police station in Delhi.
“The time of voting has been extended for two hours and it will be held from 7 AM to 6 PM on April 10,” Dev said.
For the first time in Delhi, people who do not have an Electoral Photo Identity Card can exercise their franchise if their names are registered in the electoral list.
Besides EPIC, 11 other photo identity documents including passport, driving license, service identity card issued by Central and state governments, PAN card, Aadhar card and Smart card issued by RGI under NPR can be used by the voters. Health insurance smart card issued by Ministry of Labour, MNREGA job card, pension document with photograph and authenticated photovoter slip issued by the election can also be used to establish the identity.
“In 2009 Lok Sabha polls, the overall voting percentage stood at 52.3 per cent, which increased to 66 per cent in the 2013 Delhi assembly election,” Dev said here in a press conference.
There are total 1.27 crore registered voters in Delhi out of which 3.37 lakh are first timers.
For the government employees on election duty, the panel has issued 43,383 election duty certificates so that they can cast their votes. About 25,897 postal ballots have been issued for police personnel 3,478 have been issued to civil servants on election duty for voting.
The poll panel has set up 88 check points at the entry and exit roads in bordering areas of Delhi.
So far 21 FIRs have been registered against BJP, 18 against AAP and 17 against the Congress party for violation of model code of conduct.
“Around 93 unlicensed firearms have been seized. Some 647 licensed firearms have been submitted to the police. More than Rs 43 lakh have been seized,” said Dev adding that the police have also seized a total of 25,776 litres of Indian and foreign made liquors.
ENDS
Kejriwal slapped during road show in Delhi
Former Delhi chief minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal was slapped twice by an auto-rickshaw driver while he was campaigning for Rakhi Birla in northwest Delhi’s Sultanpuri on Tuesday. The incident comes less than a week when Kejriwal was punched in south east Delhi's Dakshinpuri.
The accused approached Kejriwal with a garland and managed to slap him twice despite the AAP leader
being surrounded by Delhi Police officers in plain clothes.
Kejriwal was in an open jeep when the accused identified as 38-year-old Lali in a blue shirt reached up and first garlanded the AAP chief and then slapped him hard on his left cheek twice. The attacker was immediately pinned down to the ground by AAP supporters and after being bashed up by was handed over to police. He is undergoing treatment in the hospital.
Lali accused Kejriwal and Rakhi Birla of ‘betraying auto-drivers’. “They took Rs 10 as donation from us and they did not do any work,” Lali was shouting in police custody.
“We have registered a case of assault under respective section of Indian Penal Code against the accused for hitting the former chief minister,” said a senior police officer.
Immediately after the attack, Kejriwal said, “I forgive those who attack me. Assault me as much as you want, I won’t retaliate. I appeal to volunteers not to retaliate, otherwise there is no difference between us and them.”
Kejriwal left the venue after few minutes and went Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial Rajghat with a swollen left eye and stayed there for an hour in silence along with his around 100 of supporters. He thereafter headed for his house.
"I went to Rajghat to pray to Gandhiji and sought his blessings to follow the path of non-violence and truth. We are going through a tough time and he should give us power to bear with it," Kejriwal told reporters at his Tilak Lane residence. He said this the fifth attack on him and police has failed to do anything about it.
Citing threat to his life, Kejriwal said: "The attack was per-meditated and planned by a particular person." He, however, denied to accept security and said he has forgiven the attackers for his fight is not against any particular person but the system.
“My car was attacked in Gujarat, somebody threw ink on me in Varanasi, an attempt was made in Bhiwani and two recent attacks have happened in Delhi. If police wanted to take action they would have taken,” he said.
He appealed to the party workers and volunteers to remain calm as in coming days more such attacks will happen.
In the meantime, the Delhi Congress and BJP termed the incident as a drama and accused him of trying to gain media’s attention even after the end of election campaign.
Congress spokesperson Mukesh Sharma said, “It seems like the entire incident was a drama to gain media attention even after the end of election campaign. If Kejriwal was really upset with the slapping incident, he could have sought medical assistance and demanded for an FIR against the accused. What is the point going to Raj Ghat after the incident?”
Reacting to the incident, BJP’s Sanjay Kaul said, “It is clear that Kejriwal is becoming the victim of the anarchist trend he himself started. This is the third or fourth such friendly attack on him. Either his supporters are angry for being let down or else these are orchestrated attacks designed to create a sensation.”
The Congress advised Kejriwal for taking security. “First he denied taking security cover. When the central government insisted he took accepted security from back door. Now, he must understand what the need of security is for politicians,” he added.
ENDS
The accused approached Kejriwal with a garland and managed to slap him twice despite the AAP leader
Kejriwal was in an open jeep when the accused identified as 38-year-old Lali in a blue shirt reached up and first garlanded the AAP chief and then slapped him hard on his left cheek twice. The attacker was immediately pinned down to the ground by AAP supporters and after being bashed up by was handed over to police. He is undergoing treatment in the hospital.
Lali accused Kejriwal and Rakhi Birla of ‘betraying auto-drivers’. “They took Rs 10 as donation from us and they did not do any work,” Lali was shouting in police custody.
“We have registered a case of assault under respective section of Indian Penal Code against the accused for hitting the former chief minister,” said a senior police officer.
Immediately after the attack, Kejriwal said, “I forgive those who attack me. Assault me as much as you want, I won’t retaliate. I appeal to volunteers not to retaliate, otherwise there is no difference between us and them.”
Kejriwal left the venue after few minutes and went Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial Rajghat with a swollen left eye and stayed there for an hour in silence along with his around 100 of supporters. He thereafter headed for his house.
"I went to Rajghat to pray to Gandhiji and sought his blessings to follow the path of non-violence and truth. We are going through a tough time and he should give us power to bear with it," Kejriwal told reporters at his Tilak Lane residence. He said this the fifth attack on him and police has failed to do anything about it.
Citing threat to his life, Kejriwal said: "The attack was per-meditated and planned by a particular person." He, however, denied to accept security and said he has forgiven the attackers for his fight is not against any particular person but the system.
“My car was attacked in Gujarat, somebody threw ink on me in Varanasi, an attempt was made in Bhiwani and two recent attacks have happened in Delhi. If police wanted to take action they would have taken,” he said.
He appealed to the party workers and volunteers to remain calm as in coming days more such attacks will happen.
In the meantime, the Delhi Congress and BJP termed the incident as a drama and accused him of trying to gain media’s attention even after the end of election campaign.
Congress spokesperson Mukesh Sharma said, “It seems like the entire incident was a drama to gain media attention even after the end of election campaign. If Kejriwal was really upset with the slapping incident, he could have sought medical assistance and demanded for an FIR against the accused. What is the point going to Raj Ghat after the incident?”
Reacting to the incident, BJP’s Sanjay Kaul said, “It is clear that Kejriwal is becoming the victim of the anarchist trend he himself started. This is the third or fourth such friendly attack on him. Either his supporters are angry for being let down or else these are orchestrated attacks designed to create a sensation.”
The Congress advised Kejriwal for taking security. “First he denied taking security cover. When the central government insisted he took accepted security from back door. Now, he must understand what the need of security is for politicians,” he added.
ENDS
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind appeals Muslim to support AAP in Delhi
The Congress party is likely to face a massive jolt in Delhi as the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has asked the community members to support the Aam Aadmi Party in five out of seven parliamentary constituencies.
The hardliner religious Muslim organisation of India has conducted a survey with the help of its grass-root level workers in all of the constituencies to know about the probability of strong candidates who can defeat the BJP.
“So far, the survey has been completed in five out of total seven parliamentary constituencies and we have found that the AAP candidates fit in our criteria. We have asked the community members in all these areas to support AAP,” General Secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Nusrat Ali said.
The surveys have been done in West Delhi, East Delhi, North-West, North-East and Chandni Chowk constituency. The survey is still on in New Delhi and South Delhi parliamentary constituencies.
Asked about the recent statement of the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Ahmad Bukhari asking community members to support the Congress party, Jamaat leader maintained that everyone is free to make a choice.
“It is his stand and he is free to support anyone. This is our stand and we are not only making statements. Our workers are visiting the constituencies to convey the message to everyone. Every community voter in all these constituencies has been told to support the AAP,” he added.
The organisations claims its motive behind this move is to stop what they claim communal and fascist forces.
“We don’t want to communal and fascist force to come in to power. This is our primary motive. I want to make it clear that we are not supporting any particular party, the survey has been done constituency wise and we have focused on the strong candidates who can stop such forces from coming in to power,” he added.
Jamaat has set up two criteria for selection of candidates—who can defeat the “communal forces” and who is clean and honest.
The organisation has also conducted a survey in 75 other constituencies across the country to know about the perfect candidate to support.
It is understood that Jamaat’s move came following the crushing defeat of the Congress party in last Assembly elections and the rise of AAP. The organisation feels that only the AAP candidates can defeat BJP in coming elections.
ENDS
The hardliner religious Muslim organisation of India has conducted a survey with the help of its grass-root level workers in all of the constituencies to know about the probability of strong candidates who can defeat the BJP.
“So far, the survey has been completed in five out of total seven parliamentary constituencies and we have found that the AAP candidates fit in our criteria. We have asked the community members in all these areas to support AAP,” General Secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Nusrat Ali said.
The surveys have been done in West Delhi, East Delhi, North-West, North-East and Chandni Chowk constituency. The survey is still on in New Delhi and South Delhi parliamentary constituencies.
Asked about the recent statement of the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Ahmad Bukhari asking community members to support the Congress party, Jamaat leader maintained that everyone is free to make a choice.
“It is his stand and he is free to support anyone. This is our stand and we are not only making statements. Our workers are visiting the constituencies to convey the message to everyone. Every community voter in all these constituencies has been told to support the AAP,” he added.
The organisations claims its motive behind this move is to stop what they claim communal and fascist forces.
“We don’t want to communal and fascist force to come in to power. This is our primary motive. I want to make it clear that we are not supporting any particular party, the survey has been done constituency wise and we have focused on the strong candidates who can stop such forces from coming in to power,” he added.
Jamaat has set up two criteria for selection of candidates—who can defeat the “communal forces” and who is clean and honest.
The organisation has also conducted a survey in 75 other constituencies across the country to know about the perfect candidate to support.
It is understood that Jamaat’s move came following the crushing defeat of the Congress party in last Assembly elections and the rise of AAP. The organisation feels that only the AAP candidates can defeat BJP in coming elections.
ENDS
Monday, April 07, 2014
Rahul Gandhi slams Modi over 'snoopgate controversy'
Launching a direct attack on BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi alleged him on Sunday for illegally monitoring of a young woman in his state and mocked at the saffron party over not releasing its manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls. He also carried out attack on AAP for running away from the responsibility of running government.
“I saw a poster of BJP which states now women will not face any trouble... They (BJP) claim but they don’t
realise how can be women safe when in Gujarat a woman is being spied and her phones are being taped by the state government head itself,” the Gandhi scion addressed to thousands of people in jam-packed New Delhi’s Ambedkar Nagar ground during a Lok Sabha rally .
He said that his party always wanted to pass the women reservation bill in the parliament and each time when matter came into the parliament, the opposition stalled it. “We will pass the bill after when form the government after polls,” he promised to the people.
Attacking BJP over manifesto, he said that his party members consulted and conducted several meeting for last six months so that people’s voice could be included in it. “We have spoken to about five lakh people in its bid to find out what the country wanted and then drafted its manifesto, the BJP while indulging in big talks has failed to come out with its manifesto even when the polling of the first phase was only a day away. BJP feels that whatever one man (Modi) says is enough and there is no need of party manifesto,” he mocked.
Interestingly, he termed Modi as a security guard. He stated the saffron party claims that all the problems of would be solved when single security guard will be given command to run the country. “It is not possible. I want that the country to be run by crores of security guards (people),” he said.
He said that his party accepted the people’s mandate during assembly polls and they realized that the congress leaders had closed their door for the people. “Which will now never happen,” he admitted. But he stated that people selected a debutant AAP and he decided to give them support to from the government and do works of development. “They ran away because they made false promises of providing free electricity and water,” he quips and questioned people whether they got free water of electricity.
As most of the people gathered in the ground were from resettlement colonies and migrants, he attacked Shiv Sena Party, part of NDA, stating that they bashed men and women of Bihar brutally in Mumbai and BJP has aligned with it. “We welcome everyone in Delhi and run government with sense of brotherhood,” he said.
He also cited that Sikhs were beaten and thrown away from Gujarat saying by they are outsiders. “We take everyone along. We do not practise politics of anger but that of mutual affection,” said Rahul appealing people to realize that BJP is playing divisive politics which will damage the country.
He also said that the Congress has planned to make freight corridor connecting all the metropolitan cities and want to make Indian as a manufacturing hub so that of employment can be generated and the country no more have to buy China made products.
ENDS
“I saw a poster of BJP which states now women will not face any trouble... They (BJP) claim but they don’t
He said that his party always wanted to pass the women reservation bill in the parliament and each time when matter came into the parliament, the opposition stalled it. “We will pass the bill after when form the government after polls,” he promised to the people.
Attacking BJP over manifesto, he said that his party members consulted and conducted several meeting for last six months so that people’s voice could be included in it. “We have spoken to about five lakh people in its bid to find out what the country wanted and then drafted its manifesto, the BJP while indulging in big talks has failed to come out with its manifesto even when the polling of the first phase was only a day away. BJP feels that whatever one man (Modi) says is enough and there is no need of party manifesto,” he mocked.
Interestingly, he termed Modi as a security guard. He stated the saffron party claims that all the problems of would be solved when single security guard will be given command to run the country. “It is not possible. I want that the country to be run by crores of security guards (people),” he said.
He said that his party accepted the people’s mandate during assembly polls and they realized that the congress leaders had closed their door for the people. “Which will now never happen,” he admitted. But he stated that people selected a debutant AAP and he decided to give them support to from the government and do works of development. “They ran away because they made false promises of providing free electricity and water,” he quips and questioned people whether they got free water of electricity.
As most of the people gathered in the ground were from resettlement colonies and migrants, he attacked Shiv Sena Party, part of NDA, stating that they bashed men and women of Bihar brutally in Mumbai and BJP has aligned with it. “We welcome everyone in Delhi and run government with sense of brotherhood,” he said.
He also cited that Sikhs were beaten and thrown away from Gujarat saying by they are outsiders. “We take everyone along. We do not practise politics of anger but that of mutual affection,” said Rahul appealing people to realize that BJP is playing divisive politics which will damage the country.
He also said that the Congress has planned to make freight corridor connecting all the metropolitan cities and want to make Indian as a manufacturing hub so that of employment can be generated and the country no more have to buy China made products.
ENDS
Intelligence Report gives BJP four out of seven in Delhi
After various opinion polls have predicted a BJP surge all over the country including in Delhi, the intelligence agencies seem to have followed suit.
In the customary pre-election survey exercise done by the agencies in Delhi, a saffron sweep with four of the capital’s seven seats going to the BJP is predicted. The survey has given Chandni Chowk (Harsh Vardhan), East Delhi (Maheish Girri), South Delhi (Ramesh Bidhuri) and West Delhi (Parvesh Verma) to the BJP, while the Congress, which at present holds all seven seats, could win one—New Delhi—where former Union
Minister Ajay Maken is recontesting from.
The AAP, which had a remarkable debut in the Assembly polls last December, will fare badly and win only one seat—North West Delhi, where former minister Rakhi Birla is its candidate. The seventh seat, North East Delhi, will face a tough three-way fight. BJP has fielded Bhojpuri actor Manoj Tewari, the Congress has re-nominated J P Aggarwal and AAP has fielded JNU professor Anand Kumar from here.
The survey has listed price rise, lack of infrastructure and alleged arrogance of UPA leadership as put off factors for Delhi voters, who will express their lack of trust in the party. The agencies carried out the survey with a sample size of 3,500 voters in each of the constituencies. An exclusive look at the findings:
Chandni Chowk
In Chandi Chowk areas, Delhi BJP chief Harsh Vardhan is winning by large numbers of votes. There was infighting in the BJP the day his name was announced, however, the party high command interfered and shorted out differences them. And the entire party cadre at booth level is working in favour of him. The Congress leader Kapil Sibal is facing anti-incumbency wave. The residents are unhappy with him as he rarely visited his constituencies in last five years and tried to connect with people.
Though, Janata Dal (United)’s only MLA in the Delhi Assembly Shoaib Iqbal and Jama Masjid Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari has declared their support to him, it will not be a deciding factor. But Syed Yahya Bukhari, the younger brother of Shahi Imam, opposed any decision to endorse Congress and appealed Muslim community to vote for AAP. Despite, the journalist-turned-politician Ashutosh has made several jan sabha and road shows, the people are not very enthusiastic about him.
East Delhi
In East Delhi, BJP candidate Maheish Girri has good edge over Mahatma Gandhi's grandson Rajmohan Gandhi. Girri has been working for last two years in those areas and has been able to connect himself with people. The people are supportive to Rajmohan Gandhi and are excited about him but not at large scale. His old age has also kept him away from campaigning aggressively. Sandeep Dikshit lagging far behind from both the candidates as his own party members seems to be working against him after his mother and former chief minister of Delhi Shelia Dikshit left the city. The party legislators are working and block level members are working against him as they want him also to be sidelined like her mother.
South Delhi
In South Delhi, there is strong presence of and strong presence Jat and Gujjar community and they have declared their support for the BJP candidate Ramesh Bidhuri. His winning as Gujjar leader Ramveer Singh Bidhuri, who had joined BJP last year and was against Ramesh Bidhuri for quite long time, has now been working for him. Congress Sajjan Kumar's brother Ramesh Kumar has been considered as weak candidate this time after Sajjan Kumar has been sidelined by the Gandhi family. The vote of Jat community behind Sajjan Kumar has been divided between Congress and BJP. The AAP colonel Devendar Sehrawat has limited popularity and only Delhi Cantonment voters are excited about him.
West
In west Delhi, the BJP candidate Parvesh Verma, former Chief Minister of Delhi Sahib Singh Verma, has caught imagination of rural people. He has support of all the local villagers most of Jat community. In Sikh dominated area, Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal will be campaigning in next few days to garner support for him and to divide the votes of the AAP candidate Jarnail Singh. Congress MP and three-time MLA Mahabal Mishra is having a tough time as people there are unhappy with him. The purvanchal voters have been divided this time.
New Delhi
Congress Ajay Maken is ahead of all the candidates in New Delhi area, though BJP Meenakshi Lekhi is working out very hard day and night to connect herself with the voters. Ajay Maken is favorite among voters due his clean image and proximity with Gandhi family. Seeing the hard work of Lekhi, the BJP high command has organised Narendra Modi rally at Ram Lila Ground on three days ahead of polling to galvanize the voters of New Delhi areas. The journalist-turned-politician and Aam Aadmi Party candidate from the New Delhi Lok Sabha constituency Ashish Khetan is an unknown face for the people.
North East
At one side, the Bhojpuri actor and singer Manoj Tiwari has been successful in making the people believe that he is not outsider but a local resident but on the other side Congress J P Agarwal is also become an obvious choice for the people. ‘He has worked in his constituency and people are supporting him. There is tough fight between both of them and the winning margin would be very less, the report stated. For AAP candidate Anand Kumar, JNU students are working through day and night but they not have been able to make a mark in the constituency. Interestingly, he has been working all alone with the support of AAP activist.
North West
AAP Rakhi Birla is winning from North West Delhi as BJP supporters are working against its own candidate Udit Raj. Rakhi Birla will win for sure but now with large margin, the report says. There is strong discontent among the party worker inside BJP over Udit Raj which has given clear verdict of AAP candidate who is local and have support base there. The old horses -- Yogendra Chandoliya and Anita Arya from Northwest Delhi – are playing cards against Udit Raj. Congress leader Krishna Tirath is facing anti-incumbency factor. She was and no more a popular face there. She is losing by large numbers of votes, says reports.
In the customary pre-election survey exercise done by the agencies in Delhi, a saffron sweep with four of the capital’s seven seats going to the BJP is predicted. The survey has given Chandni Chowk (Harsh Vardhan), East Delhi (Maheish Girri), South Delhi (Ramesh Bidhuri) and West Delhi (Parvesh Verma) to the BJP, while the Congress, which at present holds all seven seats, could win one—New Delhi—where former Union
The AAP, which had a remarkable debut in the Assembly polls last December, will fare badly and win only one seat—North West Delhi, where former minister Rakhi Birla is its candidate. The seventh seat, North East Delhi, will face a tough three-way fight. BJP has fielded Bhojpuri actor Manoj Tewari, the Congress has re-nominated J P Aggarwal and AAP has fielded JNU professor Anand Kumar from here.
The survey has listed price rise, lack of infrastructure and alleged arrogance of UPA leadership as put off factors for Delhi voters, who will express their lack of trust in the party. The agencies carried out the survey with a sample size of 3,500 voters in each of the constituencies. An exclusive look at the findings:
Chandni Chowk
In Chandi Chowk areas, Delhi BJP chief Harsh Vardhan is winning by large numbers of votes. There was infighting in the BJP the day his name was announced, however, the party high command interfered and shorted out differences them. And the entire party cadre at booth level is working in favour of him. The Congress leader Kapil Sibal is facing anti-incumbency wave. The residents are unhappy with him as he rarely visited his constituencies in last five years and tried to connect with people.
Though, Janata Dal (United)’s only MLA in the Delhi Assembly Shoaib Iqbal and Jama Masjid Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari has declared their support to him, it will not be a deciding factor. But Syed Yahya Bukhari, the younger brother of Shahi Imam, opposed any decision to endorse Congress and appealed Muslim community to vote for AAP. Despite, the journalist-turned-politician Ashutosh has made several jan sabha and road shows, the people are not very enthusiastic about him.
East Delhi
In East Delhi, BJP candidate Maheish Girri has good edge over Mahatma Gandhi's grandson Rajmohan Gandhi. Girri has been working for last two years in those areas and has been able to connect himself with people. The people are supportive to Rajmohan Gandhi and are excited about him but not at large scale. His old age has also kept him away from campaigning aggressively. Sandeep Dikshit lagging far behind from both the candidates as his own party members seems to be working against him after his mother and former chief minister of Delhi Shelia Dikshit left the city. The party legislators are working and block level members are working against him as they want him also to be sidelined like her mother.
South Delhi
In South Delhi, there is strong presence of and strong presence Jat and Gujjar community and they have declared their support for the BJP candidate Ramesh Bidhuri. His winning as Gujjar leader Ramveer Singh Bidhuri, who had joined BJP last year and was against Ramesh Bidhuri for quite long time, has now been working for him. Congress Sajjan Kumar's brother Ramesh Kumar has been considered as weak candidate this time after Sajjan Kumar has been sidelined by the Gandhi family. The vote of Jat community behind Sajjan Kumar has been divided between Congress and BJP. The AAP colonel Devendar Sehrawat has limited popularity and only Delhi Cantonment voters are excited about him.
West
In west Delhi, the BJP candidate Parvesh Verma, former Chief Minister of Delhi Sahib Singh Verma, has caught imagination of rural people. He has support of all the local villagers most of Jat community. In Sikh dominated area, Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal will be campaigning in next few days to garner support for him and to divide the votes of the AAP candidate Jarnail Singh. Congress MP and three-time MLA Mahabal Mishra is having a tough time as people there are unhappy with him. The purvanchal voters have been divided this time.
New Delhi
Congress Ajay Maken is ahead of all the candidates in New Delhi area, though BJP Meenakshi Lekhi is working out very hard day and night to connect herself with the voters. Ajay Maken is favorite among voters due his clean image and proximity with Gandhi family. Seeing the hard work of Lekhi, the BJP high command has organised Narendra Modi rally at Ram Lila Ground on three days ahead of polling to galvanize the voters of New Delhi areas. The journalist-turned-politician and Aam Aadmi Party candidate from the New Delhi Lok Sabha constituency Ashish Khetan is an unknown face for the people.
North East
At one side, the Bhojpuri actor and singer Manoj Tiwari has been successful in making the people believe that he is not outsider but a local resident but on the other side Congress J P Agarwal is also become an obvious choice for the people. ‘He has worked in his constituency and people are supporting him. There is tough fight between both of them and the winning margin would be very less, the report stated. For AAP candidate Anand Kumar, JNU students are working through day and night but they not have been able to make a mark in the constituency. Interestingly, he has been working all alone with the support of AAP activist.
North West
AAP Rakhi Birla is winning from North West Delhi as BJP supporters are working against its own candidate Udit Raj. Rakhi Birla will win for sure but now with large margin, the report says. There is strong discontent among the party worker inside BJP over Udit Raj which has given clear verdict of AAP candidate who is local and have support base there. The old horses -- Yogendra Chandoliya and Anita Arya from Northwest Delhi – are playing cards against Udit Raj. Congress leader Krishna Tirath is facing anti-incumbency factor. She was and no more a popular face there. She is losing by large numbers of votes, says reports.
Saturday, April 05, 2014
Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid urgers to vote for Congress
Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid mosque announced his support to the Congress and Trinamool Congress parties on Friday stating that it will strengthen secularism in the country.
After meeting Congress chief Sonia Gandhi a few days ago, Syed Ahmed Bukhari during a press conference on Friday said the Congress has done a lot for the Muslims. “I met Sonia Gandhi and discussed a lot of issues related with Muslims with her,” Bukhari said.
Endorsing Congress, he appealed Muslim Community to vote for the party. “We announce support for the Congress. I support Congress on the condition that they will fulfill promises made to the Muslim community,” he said.
He also announced support to Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress in West Bengal and Lalu Prasad’s Rashtriya Janata Dal, a Congress ally, in Bihar.
He, however, stated that it was not a fatwa and he just made an appeal to Muslim community to vote so that communalism considered to be a bigger threat than corruption should not be promoted. “We have to fight against communal forces. It's is not a fatwa that we have issued; it's an appeal. This is just a support and opinion that I have expressed, it is not an order,” he said.
Bukhari had supported the Samajwadi Party in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls. On this, h said that Mulayam Singh Yadav's party had betrayed Muslims. “Voting for the SP and the Bahujan Samaj Party will be a waste. SP had even played a role in last year's Muzaffarnagar riots,” Bukhari stated.
On BSP he clarified that the party has showed it could align with anyone to be in power. “We can not support it,” he said.
Slightly hinting on AAP he said that the Muslim community should ensure that secular votes are not divided.
When question where raised over being a community religious head, he should not have been political. Bukhari said, “Under the Indian Constitution there is no rule that a religious head can't have an opinion and express it.”
The Shahi Imam ruled out endorsing the Samajwadi Party and the BSP, saying the former had even played a role in last year's Muzaffarnagar riots.
Reacting to Imam Bukhari's declaration, the BJP said the Congress is desperate to get Muslim votes. “They have become is desperate; they tried to communalize the election. The Election Commission must take cognizance of this communal appeal,” said BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad.
END
After meeting Congress chief Sonia Gandhi a few days ago, Syed Ahmed Bukhari during a press conference on Friday said the Congress has done a lot for the Muslims. “I met Sonia Gandhi and discussed a lot of issues related with Muslims with her,” Bukhari said.
Endorsing Congress, he appealed Muslim Community to vote for the party. “We announce support for the Congress. I support Congress on the condition that they will fulfill promises made to the Muslim community,” he said.
He also announced support to Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress in West Bengal and Lalu Prasad’s Rashtriya Janata Dal, a Congress ally, in Bihar.
He, however, stated that it was not a fatwa and he just made an appeal to Muslim community to vote so that communalism considered to be a bigger threat than corruption should not be promoted. “We have to fight against communal forces. It's is not a fatwa that we have issued; it's an appeal. This is just a support and opinion that I have expressed, it is not an order,” he said.
Bukhari had supported the Samajwadi Party in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls. On this, h said that Mulayam Singh Yadav's party had betrayed Muslims. “Voting for the SP and the Bahujan Samaj Party will be a waste. SP had even played a role in last year's Muzaffarnagar riots,” Bukhari stated.
On BSP he clarified that the party has showed it could align with anyone to be in power. “We can not support it,” he said.
Slightly hinting on AAP he said that the Muslim community should ensure that secular votes are not divided.
When question where raised over being a community religious head, he should not have been political. Bukhari said, “Under the Indian Constitution there is no rule that a religious head can't have an opinion and express it.”
The Shahi Imam ruled out endorsing the Samajwadi Party and the BSP, saying the former had even played a role in last year's Muzaffarnagar riots.
Reacting to Imam Bukhari's declaration, the BJP said the Congress is desperate to get Muslim votes. “They have become is desperate; they tried to communalize the election. The Election Commission must take cognizance of this communal appeal,” said BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad.
END
Wednesday, April 02, 2014
Manoj Tiwari’s mom does not believe that he is contesting polls
The mother of Manoj Tiwari, the Bhojpuri star-turned-politician contesting on a BJP ticket from North East Delhi constituency, still feels that his son is campaigning for BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and his has not got any party ticket .
“My mother staying in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi believes that I am campaigning for Modi jee and I am not Jooth maat bol itna bada aadmi nahi hai tu’,” Tiwari said.
contesting election and I am telling lies to her. Whenever, I call her she replies over phone ‘
Interestingly, Tiwari during his campaigning faces unexpected questions from the people but wherever he goes he encounters a single question most of the time. Being a film industry guy will he stay and look after the constituency or ran away? “Tum bhagoge tho nahi. This is what I keep hearing from the people. I assure them that unlike my predecessors (people from film industry) I am not going run away and to stay for live long in this constituency,” he said.
He feels sorry for the people from where Bollywood actors contested as after winning they never returned to see their condition. “All the people from film industry who earlier were elected will face problems in their constituencies. Being a celebrity will not make you win election this time. There is no option as you have to work for people,” he said.
He also had to explain the people about five year development for the constituency. “I ask me what I will in next five years,” he said.
This man is busy and is working out around 17 hours to make connect with the people. He starts his day at 7: 30 and thereafter carries out pad yatras in his constituency till 12 noon. Between 12 to 1 am he meets his party workers and interacts with them and tries to know the problems in the areas. From 1 to 2 he keep time for himself for lunch and to rest. “Most of the time, I miss my lunch as some assignments some up in between,” he said.
From 2: 30, he starts meeting people in jan sabhas at various places scheduled beforehand by the party workers and by 10 pm he return to his party office where he does his dinner and again meet the party workers. “After that most of the days, I go for some special interaction with people organsied by them,” said Tiwari adding that h returns home by 2 am in early morning.
“I have to build confidence among the people and win their heart,” he added.
ENDS
“My mother staying in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi believes that I am campaigning for Modi jee and I am not Jooth maat bol itna bada aadmi nahi hai tu’,” Tiwari said.
contesting election and I am telling lies to her. Whenever, I call her she replies over phone ‘Interestingly, Tiwari during his campaigning faces unexpected questions from the people but wherever he goes he encounters a single question most of the time. Being a film industry guy will he stay and look after the constituency or ran away? “Tum bhagoge tho nahi. This is what I keep hearing from the people. I assure them that unlike my predecessors (people from film industry) I am not going run away and to stay for live long in this constituency,” he said.
He feels sorry for the people from where Bollywood actors contested as after winning they never returned to see their condition. “All the people from film industry who earlier were elected will face problems in their constituencies. Being a celebrity will not make you win election this time. There is no option as you have to work for people,” he said.
He also had to explain the people about five year development for the constituency. “I ask me what I will in next five years,” he said.
This man is busy and is working out around 17 hours to make connect with the people. He starts his day at 7: 30 and thereafter carries out pad yatras in his constituency till 12 noon. Between 12 to 1 am he meets his party workers and interacts with them and tries to know the problems in the areas. From 1 to 2 he keep time for himself for lunch and to rest. “Most of the time, I miss my lunch as some assignments some up in between,” he said.
From 2: 30, he starts meeting people in jan sabhas at various places scheduled beforehand by the party workers and by 10 pm he return to his party office where he does his dinner and again meet the party workers. “After that most of the days, I go for some special interaction with people organsied by them,” said Tiwari adding that h returns home by 2 am in early morning.
“I have to build confidence among the people and win their heart,” he added.
ENDS
Tuesday, April 01, 2014
Fight intensifies: AAP Sehrawat accuses Bidhuri of hiding criminal cases
Fight intensifies in South Delhi. Aam Aadmi Party’s South Delhi parliamentary candidate Devinder Sehrawat alleged that his Bharatiya Janata Party rival on the seat, Ramesh Bidhuri has not given full information about criminal cases pending against him in the election affidavit.
“In his electoral affidavit, Ramesh Bidhuri had mentioned only three FIRs, while six FIRs are registered
against him in different police stations.
“On March 9 last year, Bidhuri allegedly misbehaved with a woman employee of Delhi Secretariat. Later, the woman had registered case against him,” Sehrawat said while addressing a press conference.
He also alleged that other cases, which involve him in land grabbing and criminal intimidation, are also registered against him in different police stations.
“Between 2004 and February 2014, several cases have been registered against Bidhuri. We are searching more cases registered against him in different police stations,” he said.
Ramesh Bidhuri counter attacked AamAadmi Party and said the newly formed party indulges in sensational accusations to defame him.
The AamAadmi Party’s hopes of winning in the South Delhi constituency were dealt a severe blow as enthusiastic supporters pooled in and donated Ramesh Bidhuri from BJP Rs 5 lakh towards his campaign.
It would have hurt all the more as the supporters were essentially from Mahipalpur, the home turf of Aam Aadmi Party’s South Delhi candidate Devinder Sehrawat.
Staring at a resounding defeat, Sehrawat has hit back with malicious allegations regarding Bidhuri’s pending cases.
In what can be seen as an irresponsible attitude towards the public, the party seems to have done incomplete research as it has based its allegations solely on “press reports” and no concrete evidence.
Commenting on the baseless allegations, AshishSood, Vice President, BJP Delhi and Convenor of the elections of South Delhi Parliamentary Constituency, said, “It comes as little surprise as this is not the first time something like this has been done by the AAP. They have a reputation of spreading false rumours and making baseless accusations. Bidhuri has maintained absolute transparency and we would request the public not to be misled by such unverified claims.”
He said that Sehrawat did not come forward with legitimate proofs of his allegations when the nomination was filed or, prior to the final list being declared.
In the interest of the public, the AAP candidate should have shared substantial evidence during scrutiny by the Election Commission which would have resulted in suspension of Bidhuri’s nomination.
The information shared by Sehrawat in his press release is full of errors. He has pointed out to a case in 2006, whereas Bidhuri has actually been acquitted in the case.
Sehrawat has referred to ‘media reports’ which is a frivolous source of evidence. There is no legitimate proof shared with the people
“Bidhuri has been a dedicated worker of the party in the constituency for over the past twenty years and has already been elected MLA from Tughlakabad thrice. Highlighting half baked cases against Bidhuri is a poor attempt at undermining his sincere work,’ said Sood.
ENDS
“In his electoral affidavit, Ramesh Bidhuri had mentioned only three FIRs, while six FIRs are registered
“On March 9 last year, Bidhuri allegedly misbehaved with a woman employee of Delhi Secretariat. Later, the woman had registered case against him,” Sehrawat said while addressing a press conference.
He also alleged that other cases, which involve him in land grabbing and criminal intimidation, are also registered against him in different police stations.
“Between 2004 and February 2014, several cases have been registered against Bidhuri. We are searching more cases registered against him in different police stations,” he said.
Ramesh Bidhuri counter attacked AamAadmi Party and said the newly formed party indulges in sensational accusations to defame him.
The AamAadmi Party’s hopes of winning in the South Delhi constituency were dealt a severe blow as enthusiastic supporters pooled in and donated Ramesh Bidhuri from BJP Rs 5 lakh towards his campaign.
It would have hurt all the more as the supporters were essentially from Mahipalpur, the home turf of Aam Aadmi Party’s South Delhi candidate Devinder Sehrawat.
Staring at a resounding defeat, Sehrawat has hit back with malicious allegations regarding Bidhuri’s pending cases.
In what can be seen as an irresponsible attitude towards the public, the party seems to have done incomplete research as it has based its allegations solely on “press reports” and no concrete evidence.
Commenting on the baseless allegations, AshishSood, Vice President, BJP Delhi and Convenor of the elections of South Delhi Parliamentary Constituency, said, “It comes as little surprise as this is not the first time something like this has been done by the AAP. They have a reputation of spreading false rumours and making baseless accusations. Bidhuri has maintained absolute transparency and we would request the public not to be misled by such unverified claims.”
He said that Sehrawat did not come forward with legitimate proofs of his allegations when the nomination was filed or, prior to the final list being declared.
In the interest of the public, the AAP candidate should have shared substantial evidence during scrutiny by the Election Commission which would have resulted in suspension of Bidhuri’s nomination.
The information shared by Sehrawat in his press release is full of errors. He has pointed out to a case in 2006, whereas Bidhuri has actually been acquitted in the case.
Sehrawat has referred to ‘media reports’ which is a frivolous source of evidence. There is no legitimate proof shared with the people
“Bidhuri has been a dedicated worker of the party in the constituency for over the past twenty years and has already been elected MLA from Tughlakabad thrice. Highlighting half baked cases against Bidhuri is a poor attempt at undermining his sincere work,’ said Sood.
ENDS
War begins: Harsh Vardhan accuses Sibal favouring Anil Ambani
Realpolitiks begins. BJP parliamentary candidate from Chandni Chowk Harsh Vardhan attacked Congress MP and Minister for Telecommunications and IT Kapil Sibal alleging that he ‘gifted Rs 650 crore as fine waiver to Anil Ambani’ and demanded ‘judicial enquiry’.
“He deprived the country of Rs 650 crore in penalty fees payable by Anil Ambani’s Reliance Communication Ltd in 2011,” said Harsh Vardhan during a press conference.
He said that in February 2011, Sibal overruled his ministry the senior officers and violated the telecom policy enunciated by the NDA government.
“Reliance had deliberately switched off services to 13 circles. It was liable to pay Rs 50 crore per circle as penalty for violating terms of the Universal Access Service Licenses held by it. But Sibal waived the penalty with no valid explanation,” he alleged.
He said that the company officials tried to justify this saying it was not finding the circles viable. But it conveniently suppressed the fact that it was receiving subsidy from the government under the Universal Services Obligation Fund established under the telecom policy.
In normal circumstances, disputes between private companies and the government are referred to Telecom Disputes Settlement and Arbitration Tribunal. Sibal himself had gained the notoriety of forcing private players to first pay up their penalties by telling them to take their objection to TDSAT. In this way, many private players had been wrongly punished.
In the Reliance case, a show cause notice was issued by the Department on December 21, 2010 asking why Reliance should not be made to pay the penalty of Rs. 50 crore per circle for clear violation of the UAS Agreement.
It was surprising because Sibal appeared to don his lawyer’s garb to argue for Anil Ambani’s lapses. The country had the misfortune of seeing a cabinet minister act as a lawyer for a corporate house which was violating rules and laughing its way to the bank.
“The company did not reply to the show cause notice. On January 5, 2011 the company wrote to the Universal Access Obligation Fund Administrator in the ministry asking for six weeks’ time to reply without mentioning whether it intended restoring the services,” he said.
When the government refused, Reliance addressed the question of restoration, the company kept writing letters reiterating its demand for six more weeks. On February 9, 2011 the telecom secretary approved the levy of Rs 650 crore and file reached to Sibal on the same day
“Instead of approving the Secretary’s note for levying penalty, Sibal waited for a whole week until a letter arrived from Reliance which claimed that it had ‘restored’ services. It can easily be inferred that the minister, instead of acting for the interests of the government, was responding to the orders of Anil Ambani,” he added.
Two days later, Sibal overruled the Secretary saying Reliance had merely “interrupted” services and therefore should not be asked to pay a penalty.
This was not an “interruption”. Reliance had deliberately switched off the 13 circles. This was done in spite of taking advantage of the National Telecom Policy, 1999 which provides for subsidy to private sector operators in low-revenue areas through the USFO (Universal Services Obligation Fund).
ENDS
“He deprived the country of Rs 650 crore in penalty fees payable by Anil Ambani’s Reliance Communication Ltd in 2011,” said Harsh Vardhan during a press conference.
He said that in February 2011, Sibal overruled his ministry the senior officers and violated the telecom policy enunciated by the NDA government.
“Reliance had deliberately switched off services to 13 circles. It was liable to pay Rs 50 crore per circle as penalty for violating terms of the Universal Access Service Licenses held by it. But Sibal waived the penalty with no valid explanation,” he alleged.
He said that the company officials tried to justify this saying it was not finding the circles viable. But it conveniently suppressed the fact that it was receiving subsidy from the government under the Universal Services Obligation Fund established under the telecom policy.
In normal circumstances, disputes between private companies and the government are referred to Telecom Disputes Settlement and Arbitration Tribunal. Sibal himself had gained the notoriety of forcing private players to first pay up their penalties by telling them to take their objection to TDSAT. In this way, many private players had been wrongly punished.
In the Reliance case, a show cause notice was issued by the Department on December 21, 2010 asking why Reliance should not be made to pay the penalty of Rs. 50 crore per circle for clear violation of the UAS Agreement.
It was surprising because Sibal appeared to don his lawyer’s garb to argue for Anil Ambani’s lapses. The country had the misfortune of seeing a cabinet minister act as a lawyer for a corporate house which was violating rules and laughing its way to the bank.
“The company did not reply to the show cause notice. On January 5, 2011 the company wrote to the Universal Access Obligation Fund Administrator in the ministry asking for six weeks’ time to reply without mentioning whether it intended restoring the services,” he said.
When the government refused, Reliance addressed the question of restoration, the company kept writing letters reiterating its demand for six more weeks. On February 9, 2011 the telecom secretary approved the levy of Rs 650 crore and file reached to Sibal on the same day
“Instead of approving the Secretary’s note for levying penalty, Sibal waited for a whole week until a letter arrived from Reliance which claimed that it had ‘restored’ services. It can easily be inferred that the minister, instead of acting for the interests of the government, was responding to the orders of Anil Ambani,” he added.
Two days later, Sibal overruled the Secretary saying Reliance had merely “interrupted” services and therefore should not be asked to pay a penalty.
This was not an “interruption”. Reliance had deliberately switched off the 13 circles. This was done in spite of taking advantage of the National Telecom Policy, 1999 which provides for subsidy to private sector operators in low-revenue areas through the USFO (Universal Services Obligation Fund).
ENDS
Monday, March 31, 2014
Sonia Gandhi lashes out at AAP
For the first time, Congress president Sonia Gandhi mounted an attack on Aam Aadmi Party on Sunday at a rally in New Delhi’s Ajmal Khan Park stating that a few people ‘making tall claims ran away in few days’. She also singled out BJP for preaching ‘politics of hatred and communalism’ and making big ‘false promises’.
Addressing a well attended rally, she lashed out at AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal. Without naming Kejriwal she said, “A few people came with tall claims and ran away in few days. They do not know that running a government is not a child’s job.”
The Congress that lost its Delhi government to emergence of AAP is hoping not to perform as bad in the
Lok Sabha elections. Congress had won all the seven Lok Sabha seats during the 2009 elections.
Congress workers responded enthusiastically to her barbs on AAP. Slogans of Sonia Gandhi zindabad and Congress zindabad followed.
Highlighting the achievements of Hakim Ajmal Khan, a freedom fighter, on whose honour the park has been named, the UPA chairperson said that Khan has been always symbol of unity between two communities but a few people (BJP) are teaching ‘ideology of fanaticism’. She said election is fight between two different ideologies. “Congress ideology teaches love and equality and we always have goodwill for opposition parties but out there some are teaching fanaticism and how to create conflict between two communities,” she said.
In a veiled attack on the BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Gandhi said: “I am in politics to take the tradition of the Congress party forward. For me it is more important to protect the Ganga-Jamuni Tahzeeb than going after power. But there are certain individual and organisations who want to take the country into the direction of darkness and doom. But I have faith in the judgment of people and even this time you won't make a mistake in taking the right direction and support the Congress party.”
Gandhi described the saffron party as a “divisive force” and said that they will ‘ruin the country’.
BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is contesting from the holy city of Varanasi, largely known for its Ganga-Jamuni Tahzeeb – which largely describes the sense of brotherhood between different religions.
The Congress president also slammed BJP for “raising the pitch over the issue of nationalism and patriotism”. She questioned the tall claims of BJP and AAP on nationalism. “BJP and others (AAP) can only give speeches of nationalism and patriotism and at public rallies but the truth is patriotism flows in the veins of Congress,” she roared.
She said that if they want to learn nationalism they should learn from Congress. “If they want to learn, they should learn from Congress people who scarified their lives. They should learn from soldiers fighting for the country of a common man working day and night to earn food,” she roared.
She clarified the people that running a government or being in power is not an important issue for Congress but making the ‘countrymen proud of being Indian is most important’. “I am proud that people of India raise their head across the world with great pride,” she said.
She also highlighted the Congress has made several policies of poor and needy under leadership of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. “I am proud to bring laws where street vendors don’t have to shell out money to police and sanitation workers will not be employed on contract basis anymore. Had the opposition not stalled parliament proceedings we could have brought many such laws,” she said.
She sought the support of the Delhiites stating that people in the capital “have always made the right choice and would once again vote in favour of her party nominees”.
Interestingly, she was sharing dais with New Delhi parliamentary candidate Ajay Maken, Delhi Congress leader Arvinder Singh Lovely and Shakeel Ahmad and rest of the leaders -- Sandeep Dikshit, Kapil Sibal, Mahabal Mishra, Ramesh Kumar and Krishna Tirath were below the dais and they only after Gandhi ended her speech.
Gandhi arrived an hour and a half behind schedule at 5.30 p.m and during that time the party leaders Sandeep Dikshit, Ajay Maken, Shakeel Ahmad, Arvinder Singh Lovely and Ramesh Kumar had engrossed the crowd with their speeches.
The rally was the first by a top Congress leader after Indira Gandhi held a rally in 1979 at the same venue, however, there was mix response from the people.
ENDS
Addressing a well attended rally, she lashed out at AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal. Without naming Kejriwal she said, “A few people came with tall claims and ran away in few days. They do not know that running a government is not a child’s job.”
The Congress that lost its Delhi government to emergence of AAP is hoping not to perform as bad in the
Lok Sabha elections. Congress had won all the seven Lok Sabha seats during the 2009 elections.
Congress workers responded enthusiastically to her barbs on AAP. Slogans of Sonia Gandhi zindabad and Congress zindabad followed.
Highlighting the achievements of Hakim Ajmal Khan, a freedom fighter, on whose honour the park has been named, the UPA chairperson said that Khan has been always symbol of unity between two communities but a few people (BJP) are teaching ‘ideology of fanaticism’. She said election is fight between two different ideologies. “Congress ideology teaches love and equality and we always have goodwill for opposition parties but out there some are teaching fanaticism and how to create conflict between two communities,” she said.
In a veiled attack on the BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Gandhi said: “I am in politics to take the tradition of the Congress party forward. For me it is more important to protect the Ganga-Jamuni Tahzeeb than going after power. But there are certain individual and organisations who want to take the country into the direction of darkness and doom. But I have faith in the judgment of people and even this time you won't make a mistake in taking the right direction and support the Congress party.”
Gandhi described the saffron party as a “divisive force” and said that they will ‘ruin the country’.
BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is contesting from the holy city of Varanasi, largely known for its Ganga-Jamuni Tahzeeb – which largely describes the sense of brotherhood between different religions.
The Congress president also slammed BJP for “raising the pitch over the issue of nationalism and patriotism”. She questioned the tall claims of BJP and AAP on nationalism. “BJP and others (AAP) can only give speeches of nationalism and patriotism and at public rallies but the truth is patriotism flows in the veins of Congress,” she roared.
She said that if they want to learn nationalism they should learn from Congress. “If they want to learn, they should learn from Congress people who scarified their lives. They should learn from soldiers fighting for the country of a common man working day and night to earn food,” she roared.
She clarified the people that running a government or being in power is not an important issue for Congress but making the ‘countrymen proud of being Indian is most important’. “I am proud that people of India raise their head across the world with great pride,” she said.
She also highlighted the Congress has made several policies of poor and needy under leadership of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. “I am proud to bring laws where street vendors don’t have to shell out money to police and sanitation workers will not be employed on contract basis anymore. Had the opposition not stalled parliament proceedings we could have brought many such laws,” she said.
She sought the support of the Delhiites stating that people in the capital “have always made the right choice and would once again vote in favour of her party nominees”.
Interestingly, she was sharing dais with New Delhi parliamentary candidate Ajay Maken, Delhi Congress leader Arvinder Singh Lovely and Shakeel Ahmad and rest of the leaders -- Sandeep Dikshit, Kapil Sibal, Mahabal Mishra, Ramesh Kumar and Krishna Tirath were below the dais and they only after Gandhi ended her speech.
Gandhi arrived an hour and a half behind schedule at 5.30 p.m and during that time the party leaders Sandeep Dikshit, Ajay Maken, Shakeel Ahmad, Arvinder Singh Lovely and Ramesh Kumar had engrossed the crowd with their speeches.
The rally was the first by a top Congress leader after Indira Gandhi held a rally in 1979 at the same venue, however, there was mix response from the people.
ENDS
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