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NOIDA/DELHI 2 THE HINDU WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015 When gates at BJP office were locked Staff Reporter The ruckus caused by party workers in the Delhi BJP office here caused the police to intervene and escort some of them outside the premises. Some of them were disgruntled with the way Poorvanchalis have been represented in the BJP list. When police personnel approached protesters and asked them what their demands were, they replied they were there for a “quiet sit-in”, which was contrary to what they were actually doing. The gates of the Delhi BJP headquarters were then locked to keep the protesters out. However, the guards who were in possession of keys disappeared leaving several journalists, party workers and visitors to the office stranded inside the premises with no way out. The only escape route was climbing the compound wall. One party worker broke the lamp while doing so. Congress’ Amar, Akbar and Anthony Staff Reporter The Congress’ new face and General Secretary Ajay Maken chose a unique analogy to put to rest speculation over a seeming rift between him and Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) chief Arvinder Singh at a press conference a day after Mr. Singh was asked not to contest the Assembly polls. Standing with Mr. Singh and veteran leader Haroon Yusuf, Mr. Maken amicably declared that they were not only a troika but the “Amar, Akbar and Anthony” of the Delhi Congress in an open reference to the 1977 hit revolving around three brothers separated during childhood. The only difference, however, according to a jovial Mr. Maken, was that “they had a Singh instead of an Anthony.” Every Minister and government official will work together. I will bring a clean govt. in Delhi, which would focus on every department KIRAN BEDI BJP's CM candidate I never wanted to contest and BJP as a party will work together and win the Delhi Assembly polls this time SATISH UPADHYAY Delhi BJP chief People want to know whether BJP will reduce power and water tariff, and how it will bring down prices of essential items, how it will put an end to bribery and corruption ARVIND KEJRIWAL AAP convenor CM YK KEJRIWAL AND KIRAN BEDI TURNED ON THE POLL HEAT WHEN THEY VISITED KRISHNA NAGAR ON TUESDAY. WHILE THE AAP LEADER DREW HUGE CROWDS, THE BJP'S CM CANDIDATE INTERACTED WITH WORKERS IN A BASEMENT CAMPAIGN HITS THE ROAD Kejriwal does it again AAP supporters at Krishna Nagar on Tuesday. PHOTO: SANDEEP SAXENA Shubhomoy Sikdar Once bitten, twice shy. But not if you are Arvind Kejriwal. On a day when he received his second notice for asking voters to accept bribe from the BJP and the Congress, but only vote for the Aam Aadmi Party, he made the statement once again. Addressing a jan sabha in support of his party candidate S.K. Bagga from the Krishna Nagar constituency, where the BJP has fielded its chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi, the former Delhi Chief Minister told the crowd gathered that other parties will offer them bribe, but they had to make the right decision by choosing the AAP. Earlier on Sunday, he made a similar statement during a public rally in Uttam Nagar following which the BJP and the Congress lodged complaint with the EC. However, Mr. Kejriwal seemed undeterred and repeated the statement while Sowmiya Ashok In a corner of a large tent at the Pandit Pant Marg office of the Bharatiya Janata Party, a young woman is surrounded by party supporters sharing couplets that sang her praise. She smiled affectionately at them, applauded their efforts and coaxed others to stand up to introduce themselves. It was a meeting of BJP party workers from the Gole Market mandal and the sooner Nupur Sharma gets to know them, the better it is for this “almost 30-year-old” to begin campaigning for the February 7 polls. It had not even been 24-hours since her name was announced as the candidate from the New Delhi Assembly constituency and Ms. Sharma had decided to hit the ground running. In the winter of 2013, it was the same constituency from where a newcomer named Arvind Kejriwal had entered the big fight against a veteran Congress leader Sheila Dikshit. This year, Ms. Sharma is the newcomer and Mr. Kejriwal is her “big attacking Ms. Bedi at her constituency, which is a traditional BJP bastion. He alleged that the former IPS officer was unaware about the ground realities in Delhi. “Kiranji said in a television interview that people of Delhi did not need reduced power tariffs and were capable of paying their electricity bills. She has no idea about how people live here. She should come out and talk to people to know what they really need,” said Mr. Kejriwal, while reiterating claims about relief given to the people during his tenure. He further claimed that roping in Kiran Bedi was a ploy by the BJP to ensure that they have a scapegoat to blame for an “imminent election debacle”. “On February 10 (when the election results will be announced), Ms. Bedi will realise that she was brought in just to take the blame for the defeat,” said Mr. Kejriwal. Schoolchildren take a peek from a classroom window as AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal takes out a road show in New Delhi on Tuesday. PHOTO: AFP Nupur gears up for the big fight fight”, prompting the Aam Aadmi Party to have referred to her as a “lamb fielded for slaughter”. “Was Arvind Kejriwal the lamb ready to be slaughtered when he fought against Sheila Dikshit?” asks Ms. Sharma after she is done interacting with her colleagues. “Today, he stands with almost 80 per cent of his party leadership not standing with him. You can’t betray the trust of people, run away from power, come back and expect people to accept you. You are not a child!” she says. Since Tuesday morning, Ms. Sharma has received a string of visitors, mostly mandal and zila workers excited that the BJP has chosen a “local candidate”, keeping her away from visiting her 95-year-old grandfather who was the one who encouraged her to request the party for a ticket to contest. “When you contest elections, people repose their faith in you. They expect you to be there through happiness, sadness, problems and grievances. You need to stand with them,” she says. BUSY DAYS AHEAD: Nupur Sharma during a meeting with party workers on Tuesday. PHOTO: SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA Mixed welcome for Bedi Jatin Anand The Bharatiya Janata Party’s Kiran Bedi, on Tuesday, received a mixed welcome at East Delhi’s Krishna Nagar constituency after arriving to address party cadres in what was her maiden interaction with them after being anointed chief ministerial candidate a day earlier. In tow was Dr. Harsh Vardhan, a Union Minister who has been an MLA from the Assembly constituency since 1993 and evidently continues to enjoy tremendous local support in spite of Ms. Bedi’s newly announced candidature from it by BJP president Amit Shah on Monday. Slogans of “Dr. Harsh Vardhan zindabad” (long live Dr. Harsh Vardhan) clashed with “Kiran Bedi zindabad” (long live Kiran Bedi) as soon as both arrived at the middle-class, East Delhi neighbourhood and kept resounding throughout the event. On his part, Dr. Vardhan introduced his former constituents to Shubhomoy Sikdar Displaying a show of strength in his Assembly constituency of New Delhi, Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal apparently “failed” to file his nomination papers here on Tuesday. Mr. Kejriwal was scheduled to file the nominations at Jamnagar House after a road show from Mandir Marg to Jantar Mantar. However, he announced in front of his supporters that he had missed the 2 p.m. deadline, attributing it to the “overwhelming support” his show received. He said the time taken to reach the District Magistrate’s office at Jamnagar House was longer than expected due to the huge crowd. In the days leading up to the nomination date, the AAP had appealed people from all parts of the city to join Mr. Kejriwal to the nomination centre. He was flanked by his senior party colleagues Manish Sisodia, Ashutosh and Somnath Bharti. Oblivious of the fact that Mr. Kejriwal Yet, from a party that has in the last week “parachuted” big netas, Ms. Sharma believes in working through the party ranks inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “The point is you need to start with a strong base and I have been working in the organisation for a long time. As a public representative, how does it work if you are disconnected from the people? You need to be connected to them.” For Ms. Sharma, canvassing in New Delhi is much easier than manoeuvring the lanes of Delhi University. “Geographically, DUSU was more spread out and it was difficult managing traffic. It will be easier in New Delhi and I plan to knock on every door.” their new candidate as ‘behen (sister) Kiran’. “Our sister has come home to talk to us today,” Dr. Vardhan said at the conclusion of a protracted welcoming at a cramped basement functioning as a party office in the area. Ms. Bedi chose to acknowledge, and seemingly respect, the support the gathering displayed for Dr. Vardhan without qualms and went to the extent of saying that she was expecting him to be the CM and would treat the constituency as a garden and him as a trusted advisor. “Krishna Nagar is a very pure constituency, which is why I said that I will nurture this garden well. I’m going to be here temporarily only, as a caretaker. I hope Dr. Sahab will be at rest as this caretaker is also very effective and hardworking and knows the work which needs to be done. He’ll be my advisor, if I have any problem, I will go to him,” she said. She promised longer interaction on Wednesday when she would file her nomination. Kiran Bedi addressing workers during a meeting at Krishna Nagar on Tuesday. PHOTO: SANDEEP SAXENA Jatin Anand Faces representing each of the three major contenders of the upcoming Delhi Assembly polls took to debating the validity of a public debate on issues facing the Capital, and what solutions they are willing to bring to the table. Early Tuesday, after news of AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal’s challenge to the BJP’s newly anointed chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi through a tweet began doing the rounds, the issue became the topic of a tug-of-war for them, with the Congress’ Ajay Maken joining the fray. Ms. Bedi chose to accept Mr. Kejriwal’s challenge, but only in part saying that she would rather debate with him on the floor of the Delhi Assembly. Mr. Maken said he was all “for a structured discussion among the three politicians who are leading the campaign of their parties BJP’s ally Akali Dal to contest from four seats Staff Reporter The day after its ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party, released its list of 62 candidates to the Delhi Assembly Polls, the Shiromani Akali Dal on Tuesday said it will contest from four seats in the city, one of which it will contest in the weighing scale symbol. Manjinder Singh Sirsa will be contesting from Rajouri Garden, Harmeet Singh Kalka from Kalkaji and Jitender Singh Shunti from Shahdara. The party left out Shyam Sharma from the Hari Nagar seat and instead chose Avtar Singh Hit. Among the four, Mr. Sirsa will contest on Akali Dal’s weighing scale for the Assembly polls”. This lack of consensus among them of the future debate was echoed by political observers and academicians. “Debates like these are, and can only be, an urban phenomenon and I’m against these,” said Professor Sanjay Kumar, director, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies. “Though dialogue is welcome in a Parliamentary democracy it should centre around issues such as poverty in a country like ours instead of around symbol, while the other three candidates will fight on the BJP’s lotus symbol. Drug menace not an issue: Punjab CM Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Tuesday said the drug menace was hardly an issue in the upcoming Delhi Assembly polls and described it as a “malicious propaganda” unleashed by the Opposition to “defame Punjabis and tarnish the State’s image”. “Drug problem was neither an issue in Punjab nor in Delhi, but it is being blown out of proportion by the opposition under a deep rooted conspiracy to tarnish the image of hard working Punjabis,” he said. (With inputs from PTI) AAP chief ‘fails’ to file nomination MISSES 2 P.M. DEADLINE, ATTRIBUTES IT TO THE PRESENCE OF HUGE CROWD FEAT OF STRENGTH: Arvind Kejriwal and his supporters during the road show in New Delhi on Tuesday. PHOTO: SHANKER CHAKRAVARTY had disbanded the road show at Gole Dak Khana , some supporters kept waiting for his arrival at Jantar Mantar. They were told by the police deployed there that the nomination had been postponed. The former Delhi Chief Minister would now file his nomination on Wednesday, which is also the last date for filing Kejriwal challenges Bedi for debate, Maken says yes leaders representing political parties,” he added. Professor Neera Chandhoke from Delhi University’s Department of Political Science seemed to agree and warned against a rapid build up of a cult of the leader and the dangers this posed to the essence of Parliamentary government. “There must be public debates on substantive issues in the manifestos between leaders and members of the political public, so that instead of an audience, citizens can become participants,” she said. According to renowned social scientist Shiv Visvanathan, however, such debates could go a long way in bringing politicians out of their comfort zones provided they were structured and regulated. “I’m all for these given neutrality in issues, time provided to each participant and a ruthless moderator,” Professor Visvanathan said. ND-ND
NOIDA/DELHI THE HINDU WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015 CITY 3 DELHI TODAY Jan RISE 07 14 Jan RISE 07 14 Jan RISE 07 13 21 22 23 SET 17 52 SET 17 53 SET 17 54 RISE 07 30 RISE 08 18 RISE 09 04 WED SET 18 58 THU SET 20 05 FRI SET 21 11 Focus of the entire world is on Delhi election, says CEC Staff Reporter NEW DELHI: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) H.S. Brahma on Tuesday said that the Delhi election on February 7 is a crucial one as it is a standalone election and the focus of the entire world is on it. “Delhi being the capital of the country, ruling Delhi has a separate meaning and it is a big challenge for the Election Commission (EC) to put the most effort into ensuring free and transparent elections in the Capital,” Mr. Brahma said. Talking about how the EC has grown over the years, Mr. Brahma said in the first Lok Sabha polls held in 1951, India had 17.32 crore voters and today it has 83 crore voters, nearly two crore voters more than those who were eligible to participate in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The CEC was speaking at the inauguration of the week-long Voters’ Fest organised at Dill Haat to celebrate the National Voters Day on January 25. A EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT: Chief Election Commissioner H. S. Brahma on Tuesday at Dilli Haat during an exhibition that showcase elections down the years. S— PHOTO: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR photography exhibition in celebration of democracy was inaugurated by the CEC that takes viewers on a journey though the many elections that the Election Commission has conducted over the years. From black and white images of prominent leaders casting their vote to the harsh terrain the polling officers have crossed to set up polling booths. There is even a ‘selfie’ wall that shows many celebrities posing with ink on their fingers. There was also a street play performed by members of the Asmita Theatre group that encouraged voters to stop making excuses and come out to vote. A model polling station has been set up at the venue so that voters can familiarise themselves with the entire process. BJP declares names of 4 remaining candidates NEW DELHI: BJP on Tuesday night declared its remaining four candidates for the February 7 Delhi Assembly elections and left four other seats for its ally Shiromani Akali Dal. BJP had on Monday declared a total of 62 candidates for the 70 Assembly seats in Delhi Assembly. The Central Election Committee has decided to field Sanjay Singh from Vikaspur Assembly seat, Nandani Sharma from Malviya Nagar, Sarita Chaudhary from Mehrauli and Rakesh Gulia from Greater Kailash constituency for the elections, BJP general secretary J. P. Nadda said in a statement. BJP has left Rajouri Garden, Hari Nagar, Kalkaji and Shahdara for Akali Dal which also announced its candidates on Tuesday. Avtar Singh Hit will contest from Hari Nagar, Harmeet Singh Kalka from Kalkaji, Jatinder Singh Shunty from Shahdara and Manjinder Singh Sirsa from Rajouri Garden for Akali BJP candidate from Mehrauli Sarita Chaudhary BJP had on Monday declared a total of 62 candidates for the 70 Assembly seats Dal. SAD Delhi unit chief Manjit Singh GK said that the party candidate from Rajouri Garden Manjinder Singh will contest on SAD symbol while the remaining three party nominees will contest on BJP’s Lotus symbol. In the last assembly polls in Delhi, SAD had contested four seats, two of which were contested on their own symbol.— PTI Suspected Ebola victim admitted to AIIMS NEW DELHI: A man having severe fever was admitted to AIIMS on Tuesday amid fears that he has contracted Ebola, which the hospital authorities are yet to confirm. The patient, referred by a private hospital in Jodhpur, was admitted to the Medicine department. “The patient has been admitted in the Medicine department of AIIMS under professor Dr Sanjeev Sinha. He has symptoms of high grade fever and appears to be suffering from viral hemorrhagic fever. His condition is being constantly monitored and tests are being carried out,” said a doctor from AIIMS. When asked if the patient had contracted Ebola, the hospital authorities said, so far, nothing could be said. “His samples might be sent to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) or RML for confirmation if he is infected by Ebola virus. But, as of now it doesn’t appear that he has got the disease,” said the doctor.— PTI Plea in High Court seeks CBI probe into Pushkar’s death Mohammed Iqbal NEW DELHI: A public interest writ petition seeking a CBI inquiry into the suspicious death of Sunanda Pushkar was filed in the Delhi High Court on Tuesday. The petitioner, Anti-Corruption Front, has claimed that the investigation by the Delhi Police was “tainted and aimed at saving some influential persons”. It said the police, by registering an FIR in the case on January 1 after a delay of a year, had flouted the basic law of the land and ignored guidelines laid down in various Supreme Court judgments. EC issues second show cause notice to Kejriwal Special Correspondent NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal was issued a show cause notice by the Election Commission on Tuesday, the second in the last three days, for “prima facie” violation of the poll code: he allegedly made a provocative speech in which he asked voters to take bribes from the BJP and the Congress but only to vote for his party. The statement, the EC notice said, was made at a public rally on January 18 in the capital’s Uttam Nagar and it amounted to “abetting and promoting the electoral offence of bribery” under the relevant sections of the Representation of People Act read with the IPC. In the speech that invited the EC notice, Mr Kejriwal said, “It’s election time. When people both from BJP and Congress come offering money, don’ refuse, accept …..some have looted money from 2G, some have looted money from coal scam...Take money from both the parties but vote for AAP…We will fool them this time. They have been deceiving us for the last 65 years. Now it’ our turn.” The EC notice follows complaints from political parties. It had asked the Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi to submit a CD of the speech made for a Statement make at a rally in Uttam Nagar amounted to “abetting and promoting the electoral offence of bribery”, said the EC notice review by it. Mr Kejriwal has been asked to respond and present his side by 4pm on Thursday, failing which the EC “shall take a decision without any further reference” to him. The Commission’s notice says the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) envisages that parties and candidates participating in the electoral fray shall “avoid scrupulously all activities which are corrupt practices and offences under the election law, such as bribing of voters.” This notice follows another on January 17 when the AAP leader was issued a show cause notice by the EC for “prima facie” violating the MCC with remarks alleging that BJP is trying to incite communal violence in Delhi. The deadline for his reply to that notice was Tuesday but, the EC, accepting Mr Kejriwal’s request, gave him three more days to respond to its earlier show cause notice issued on January 17. Key member of international drug cartel held NEW DELHI: An alleged key member of an international drug cartel which smuggled heroin from Myanmar to Delhi via Manipur and Bareilly, has been arrested, police said on Tuesday. The Special Cell of Delhi Police arrested Ganpat (32) from Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday. They also recovered two mobile handsets along with two SIM cards used by him to communicate with his associates for drug trafficking activities. Ganpat is already wanted in cases of NDPS Act by Guwahati and Delhi Police. Police had earlier arrested two drug suppliers, Dharamraj and Chander Sekhar and recovered heroin weighing 1.5 kg from them. Their interrogation led to the arrest of Javed Khan and Pankaj, both resident of Bareilly, who supplied drugs to Delhi and NCR through their couriers.— PTI Published by N. Ram at Kasturi Buildings, 859 & 860, Anna Salai, Chennai-600002 and Printed by S. Ramanujam at HT Media Ltd. Plot No. 8, Udyog Vihar, Greater Noida Distt. Gautam Budh Nagar, U.P. 201306, on behalf of KASTURI & SONS LTD., Chennai-600002. Editor-in-Chief: N. Ravi (Editor responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act), Editor: Malini Parthasarathy CM YK ND-ND
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