Page 28 - Delhi

Delhi bans construction, demolition activities as air quality worsens

With pollution in the national capital turning severe on Sunday, the Centre's air quality panel directed authorities in the Delhi-NCR to ban non-essential construction work in the region under stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Delhi's 24-hour average air quality index stood at 407 at 4 pm on Sunday. An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'. The pollution level in Delhi entered the 'severe' category after November 4, when the AQI was 447. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) had directed authorities on November 14 to revoke the curbs enforced in the Delhi-NCR under stage III of GRAP, including a ban on non-essential construction activities.

MCD polls: Delhi sees weak voter turnout with nearly 30% polling till 2 pm

In what can be seen as a weak voter turnout, around 30 per cent of voters have cast their votes in the ongoing MCD elections till 2 pm, according to the state Election Commission on Sunday

Vote for making Delhi clean, beautiful city, CM Kejriwal urges Delhiites

AAP convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday urged people in the city to exercise their franchise for setting up an honest and performing establishment in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). The MCD polls for 250 wards in the national capital started at 8 AM. "Today is voting for making a neat and clean and beautiful Delhi, voting for forming a corruption free government (establishment) at the municipal corporation.I appeal all the Delhi citizen to do go for voting to form an honest and performing government at the MCD," Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi. Over 1.45 crore voters in Delhi are eligible to vote in the polls for which more than 13,000 polling booths have been set up across the city. Voting will conclude at 5:30 pm.

MCD polls: Wholesale, retail markets in city to remain shut today

All wholesale and retail markets in the national capital will remain closed on Sunday in view of the civic body polls here. The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) said popular markets, including Lajpat Nagar, Gandhi Nagar, Krishna Nagar, Kamla Nagar, Karol Bagh, Laxmi Nagar among others will remain closed. Voting is underway for the high-stakes civic polls in Delhi on Sunday, which is largely being seen as a three-way contest among the AAP, the BJP and the Congress. Over 1.45 crore electors are eligible to exercise their franchise in the elections to the 250 wards of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the results of which may have ramifications beyond the national capital.

Polling underway for high-stakes civic polls in Delhi amid tight security

Voting was underway in the national capital on Sunday for the high-stakes civic polls, which are largely being seen as a three-way contest among the AAP, BJP and Congress. There are 1,349 candidates in the fray and over 1.45 crore electors are eligible to exercise their franchise in the elections to the 250 wards of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the results of which may have ramifications beyond the national capital. Polling began at 8 am and will continue till 5:30 pm. AAP convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday urged people in the city to exercise their franchise for setting up an honest and performing establishment in the MCD. "Today is voting for making a neat and clean and beautiful Delhi, voting for forming a corruption free government (establishment) at the municipal corporation.I appeal all the Delhi citizen to do go for voting to form an honest and performing government at the MCD," Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi. Deputy Chief Minister Manish .

MCD polls today: Delhi set for three-way contest among BJP, AAP and Cong

As voters will throng the polling stations today to exercise their franchise in the elections to the 250 wards of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, setting the stage for the high-stakes civic polls

Court acquits Umar Khalid and Khalid Saifi in 2020 Delhi riots case

A court discharged former JNU student Umar Khalid and United Against Hate founder Khalid Saifi in a case related to the 2020 northeast Delhi riots. The FIR in the case was registered on the basis of the statement of Constable Sangram Singh who said a riotous mob had pelted stones on Main Karawal Nagar Road, besides setting ablaze several vehicles in a nearby parking lot on February 24, 2020. Special Public Prosecutor Madhukar Pandey confirmed that Umar Khalid and Khalid Saifi were discharged in the matter by the court of Additional Sessions Judge Pulastya Pramachala. A detailed order in the matter is awaited. Umar Khalid is accused in several other cases and facing charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in connection with the larger conspiracy behind the riots and these matters are pending in court. The Karawal Nagar police station had registered an FIR against both accused along with others under various provisions of the IPC, including rioting and criminal conspi

MCD poll: Wholesale, retail markets to remained closed on Sunday, says CTI

All wholesale and retail markets in the national capital will remain closed on December 4 in view of the civic body polls here, a traders' body said on Saturday. The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) said popular markets, including Lajpat Nagar, Gandhi Nagar, Krishna Nagar, Kamala Nagar, Karol Bagh, Laxmi Nagar among others will remain closed. Elections to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), spanning 250 wards, will be held on December 4 and voting will take place on December 7. Around 40,000 police personnel, 20,000 home guards as well as 108 companies of paramilitary and state armed police forces will be deployed to ensure smooth conduct of the MCD election, officials said. Sixty drones will also be used to ensure law and order in sensitive areas, they said.

AAP launched 'Lalu model', bungled crores in name of workers' welfare: BJP

The BJP on Saturday alleged the AAP government introduced the "Lalu model" in a new avatar in Delhi and bungled crores of rupees by enlisting fake names as beneficiaries under the construction workers' welfare board. It is "Delhi's Lalu model," alleged Union minister Anurag Thakur at a press conference here, a day before the Municipal Corporation of Delhi polls. An immediate reaction was not available from the Aam Aadmi Party on the issue. Rashtriya Janta Dal supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav was convicted in the fodder scam of Bihar and was in jail in cases related to it. "There (Bihar), cattle feed was gobbled up, here (Delhi) labourers' right were denied," Thakur claimed and alleged that Kejriwal and "his friends" bungled crores in the name of welfare of construction workers in Delhi. The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the Delhi government has found that "ghost" workers were disbursed funds to the tune of Rs 900 crore by the AAP government's Labour department, official sources had sai

Delhi set for high-stake MCD polls; 14.5 million electors eligible to vote

The stage is set for the high-stakes civic polls in Delhi on Sunday, with poll authorities and security forces all geared up for the elections, largely being seen as a three-way contest among the AAP, the BJP and the Congress. Over 1.45 crore electors are eligible to exercise their franchise in the elections to the 250 wards of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, in which 1,349 candidates are in the fray. Polling will be held from 8 am to 5:30 pm and the votes will be counted on December 7. According to data shared by the State Election Commission officials, the total number of voters in Delhi is 1,45,05,358 -- 78,93,418 males, 66,10,879 females and 1,061 transgender persons. There are 250 wards in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). This will be the first civic election after the fresh delimitation exercise, and the poll will be held days after the first phase of the Gujarat assembly elections, and a day ahead of its second phase. Authorities have set up 13,638 polling stati

Tight security arrangements put in place for MCD elections on Sunday

Around 40,000 police personnel, 20,000 home guards as well as 108 companies of paramilitary and state armed police forces will be deployed to ensure smooth conduct of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi election on Sunday, officials said. Sixty drones will also be used to ensure law and order in sensitive areas, police said. Increasing visibility, preventing the chances of communal flare-ups and checking candidates from luring voters by illegal means will be the focus of the police for the civic elections in 250 wards. A general briefing and rehearsals have been conducted for the police, paramilitary, battalion force and home guards to ensure smooth execution of security arrangements. Assistant commissioners of police and inspectors held meetings with peace committee members of the respective areas to strengthen public-police relationship The officials sensitised them to become "eyes and ears'' of police and report on 1090 regarding anything suspicious. The staff was sensitised to

Summoned by CBI in Delhi liquor policy case, Kavitha meets father KCR

They are believed to be discussing the strategy to counter what they believe is political vendetta by the BJP government at the Centre by targeting them through Central agencies

Delhi's air quality continues to be 'very poor' for fifth day; AQI at 323

Noida also recorded 'very poor' AQI today at 379

Can meet on Dec 6: Kavitha replies to notice in Delhi liquor policy case

On Thursday, Kavitha's name had surfaced in the remand report filed by the ED at a Delhi court for remand of businessman Amit Arora in connection with the liquor policy case

Delhi excise policy scam: CBI issues notice to KCR's daughter K Kavitha

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is probing the alleged Delhi excise policy scam, on Friday issued notice to Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's daughter and TRS MLC K Kavitha for questioning her in the case on December 6. The probe agency issued the notice under Section 160 of CrPC and asked her to intimate the place of residence as per her convenience for the "examination" at 11 am on that day. Kavitha, in a statement, said she informed the authorities that they can meet her at her Hyderabad residence. "During the course of investigation of the subject cited above, certain facts have emerged with which you (Kavitha) may be acquainted with. Hence, your examination on such facts is required in the interest of investigation," the CBI said in the notice. "It is therefore requested that kindly intimate the place of residence (Hyderabad or preferably Delhi) as per your convenience for your examination at 11.00 hours on 6-12-2022 in connection with investigation of abov

68 model and pink polling stations set up ahead of Delhi civic polls

Sixty-eight model polling stations and as many pink polling stations have been established for quality experience of voters on the day of the civic polls in Delhi, officials said on Friday. Polling for the municipal elections in Delhi will be held on December 4 and the votes will be counted on December 7, State Election Commissioner Vijay Dev announced on Friday, setting the stage for the high-stakes civic polls largely seen as a three-way contest between the BJP, the AAP and the Congress. This will be the first civic election after the fresh delimitation exercise, and the much-awaited poll will be held in the gap between the two phases of the Gujarat assembly elections -- on December 1 and 5. According to the data shared by the State Election Commission on November 4, the total number of voters in Delhi is over 1.46 crore. There are 250 wards in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). "A large workforce of election functionaries and security agencies have put humongous efforts t

Covid-induced mental illnesses spike gender violence in urban areas: Study

Nearly 25 per cent Covid-hit patients suffered from mental health issues across Delhi, Gujarat and Jharkhand -- more in the urban areas than the rural settings

Decision to discontinue 'Yogshala' scheme was taken by DPSRU: Officials

The decision to discontinue the 'Dilli Ki Yogshala' scheme in its "present form" was taken by the Board of Governors of the fully autonomous Delhi Pharmaceutical Science & Research University (DPSRU), and statements made by AAP leaders on it were "totally false," LG Secretariat officials said on Friday. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at an event held here, alleged that Lt Governor V K Saxena had "stopped" the scheme, but the "people of Delhi" ensured the scheme continued with their generosity. His deputy Manish Sisodia also said that "they tried to stop" Yoga classes. Officials in the LG Secretariat said the "statements made by AAP leaders were totally false and deliberately misleading". The "decision to discontinue the 'Yogshala' programme in its present form was taken by the Board of Governors (BoG) of the fully autonomous DPSRU and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had authorised the DPSRU BoG to take any such decision in writing," the officials claimed. Knowing fully well .

LG forwards proposal to implement Telangana law in Delhi to MHA: Official

Lt Governor VK Saxena has approved and forwarded a proposal to the Union Home Ministry for issuance of a notification to implement a Telangana law in Delhi which allows the police to take offenders in preventive custody, officials said. In June, the Delhi Police had sought approval for issuance of the notification to extend the Telangana Prevention of Dangerous activities Act, 1986, to the Delhi government citing "a need for stringent legislation for prevention and effective control" of criminal activities, they said. The Act is applicable for prevention of activities of boot-leggers, drug traffickers, land grabbers, those involved in adulteration of food, making fake documents, snatching, robbery, arms running, sale of drugs, gambling, sexual offences, cyber crime among others. According to officials, Saxena has approved and sent the Delhi Police's proposal to the MHA for issuance of notification under Section 2 of the Union Territories (Laws) Act, 1950 for extending the Telangana

Qutub row: Court to pass order on review of application on Dec 12

A court here will on December 12 pass an order on the review plea to its earlier order dismissing an intervention application on the Qutub Minar row. The intervention application, filed in an appeal seeking the restoration of Hindu and Jain deities in an alleged temple complex inside Qutub Minar, was dismissed by the court on September 20. The applicant, Kunwar Mahender Dhwaj Pratap Singh said he was a necessary party to the appeal. "Arguments on the application of review heard. Be listed for order/clarification, if any, on December 12, 2022, Additional District Judge Dinesh Kumar said in an order passed on Thursday. The intervention application claimed Singh was an heir of the erstwhile ruler of the 'United Province of Agra' and the owner of land parcels in several cities in and around Delhi, including the property of Qutub Minar. Against the order which dismissed the plea on the ground of it being "without merits", counsel for Singh had filed the present review application.