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Gurjars lay siege of Delhi; buses torched, roads blocked
New Delhi, Jun 4 (PTI) Normal life was thrown out of gear in several parts of the national capital today as agitating Gurjars laid siege to all entry points to Delhi and vented their anger at city buses causing traffic chaos.
However, shops and business establishments were open across the capital, barring some Gurjar dominated areas including Chilla and Dallupura villages in East Delhi and some South Delhi localities bordering Faridabad in Haryana.
Protesters blocked several key roads linking the capital to adjoining Panipat, Faridabad, Gurgaon, Noida and Ghaziabad in their bid to enforce their day-long call for shutdown to demand Scheduled Tribe status in Rajasthan, triggering major traffic jams at all the state entry points in the morning rush hours.
The Mehrauli-Gurgaon Road was the worst hit as stick- wielding protestors attacked city buses and burnt tyres blocking the road.
There were reports of police bursting tear gas shells and firing in the air to disperse the protestors in Ghitorni area bordering Gurgaon in Haryana. Clashes with police also took place in Badarpur.
Six DTC buses were torched in Aya Nagar, Jasola, Dera, Usmanpur and Wazirabad, while some buses were damaged in Khajoori Khas in Northeast Delhi and at Patparganj in East Delhi, police said.
Scores of angry protestors blocked the major arterial roads at Ghazipur crossing, Wazirabad, Anand Vihar, Badarpur, Mehrauli, Githorni, Khajoori Khas, Kalindi Kunj and Mayur Vihar by burning tyres, leading to huge traffic snarls. PTI
Court dismisses plea on Pandher, frames charges against Koli
Ghaziabad (UP), June 4 (PTI) A Special CBI Court today dismissed a petition against the "clean chit" given by the agency to Nithari killings accused Maninder Singh Pandher in the murder of a 14-year-old girl, while framing charges against co-accused Surender Koli in two cases.
Additional District Judge Rama Jain rejected the plea against CBI on the ground that Pandher was away in Chandigarh from his house in Noida when the alleged kidnapping, rape and murder of Payal took place.
The petition had been filed by an advocate, Khalid Khan, challenging the CBI move. He later said that he would approach the High Court against the ASJ's order.
In the cases of the rape and murder of Payal and 21-year-old Pinki Sarkar, the court framed charges against Koli, servant of businessman Pandher, under sections 302 (murder), 376 (rape) and other provisions of the IPC. PTI
SC declines to entertain petitions on Dera controversy
New Delhi, Jun 4 (PTI) The Supreme Court today refused to entertain petitions relating to the controversy of Dera Sacha Sauda saying the Punjab and Haryana High Court was already monitoring the matter.
A Bench comprising Justice Arijit Pasayat and Justice D K Jain said since the High Court is already monitoring the matter, we are not inclined to interfere into it.
Following this order, the petitioners preferred to withdraw the petitions.
The petition filed by Dera Sacha Sauda had sought protection of their properties against an ultimatum given by the Akal Takht to vacate them and stop their activities across the country.
The apex court also declined to entertain a Public Interest Litigation filed by advocate Harvinder Kaur seeking protection to the lives and properties of both Sikhs and followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda cult. PTI
Market skids into negative zone, Sensex down 75 points
Mumbai, June 4 (PTI) The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex surrendered early gains to close in negative zone with a fall of almost 75 points on emergence of selling at higher levels toward the fag-end.
The Sensex, which had recorded gains of around 113 points in early trading, tumbled by 74.98 points or 0.51 per cent at 14,495.77. It touched the day's high of 14,683.36 and a low of 14,465.68.
Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange's index Nifty succumbed to close lower by 30.00 points or 0.70 per cent at 4,267.05, after striking an all-time intra-session high of 4,362.95 points at the outset.
Major losers were stocks of metals, capital goods, oil and gas, auto and IT sectors. PTI
Pak SC returns govt plea for action against SCBA lawyers
Islamabad, Jun 4 (PTI) In a setback to government's plans to prosecute the lawyers heading the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) for allegedly making "derogatory" remarks against the military, the apex court today returned an official application filed in this connection, citing technical reasons.
The SCBA headed by lawyers of suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar M Chaudhry had organised a seminar in the premises of the apex court on May 26 during which the speakers allegedly made derogatory remarks against the country's Army, prompting a strong reaction from the military-backed government.
A Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Nawaz Abbasi returned the complaint of the Interior Ministry referred to it by Acting Chief Justice Javed Iqbal, saying that it was incomplete and not filed in the form of a petition, nor it cited any provisions under which the SCBA lawyers should be prosecuted.
It also recommended that if and when the petition was re-filed by the government it should be heard by a full-bench.
The bench, which today heard the government's complaint, was reconstituted following decision by two judges not to be part of it.
It is now up to the government whether it wants to file the petition again or not.
The case pertains to a contempt application against SCBA President Munir A Malik, who is also a lawyer of Chaudhry, and an Interior Ministry letter to the Supreme Court Registrar seeking suo motto notice of the reported defamation of the judiciary and Army in the SCBA seminar.
The seminar titled 'Separation of Power and Independence of Judiciary' was also addressed by Chaudhry. PTI
Dhoni moves up to 4th in ICC ODI Rankings
Dubai, Jun 4 (PTI) Team India stumper Mahendra Singh Dhoni gained a spot to be fourth in the latest LG-ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen, released today.
Dhoni, who was the man of the series in the one-day international (ODI) series against Bangladesh, has a chance to move up to third if he continues his fine form during the Afro-Asia Cup in Bangalore and Chennai starting tomorrow.
The 25-year-old is just five rating points behind Australia's Mike Hussey and if he continues with his good form over the next week, he will close the gap on Kevin Pietersen and Ricky Ponting at the top of the log.
Skipper Rahul Dravid also moved up one place to be 15th, just one point behind South African batsman Herschelle Gibbs.
In the bowlers' chart, off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, despite being out of action after being dropped for the tour of Bangladesh has cilmbed up one spot to share the 13th position with England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff and Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga.
The only other Indian in the bowling top-20 is Ajit Agarkar, who occupies the 16th spot.
Shaun Pollock continues to lead the pack and is set to play in the Afro-Asian Cup as a specialist batsman following minor foot surgery. PTI
Randhawa saves best for last, ends tied 17th at Wales Open
Celtic Manor, Jun 4 (PTI) Jyoti Randhawa played his best golf of the week as he blasted four birdies on his last five holes to finish tied 17th with a card of four-under 65 in the final round of Celtic Manor Wales Open here.
Randhawa was on fire in the last stretch as he finished with a total of eight-under 268.
Compatriot Shiv Kapur also picked up his game in the last round and shot a three-under 66 to sign off at the tied 43rd spot with a total of two-under 274.
South African Richard Sterne clinched the title after returning a 65 to finish with a score of 13-under 263.
Randhawa started well with a birdie on the second hole but was pulled back by two dropped shots on third and fifth.
A birdie on ninth helped him turn in even par.
Randhawa's back-nine was going steady as he parred the first four holes but went on a birdie-firing spree after that.
He gained a shot on the 15th before hitting a hat-trick of birdies from 16th to 18th.
Kapur, meanwhile, had his best day in a long time. He needed 29 putts in his round of 66 which had four birdies and just one bogey. His birdies came on the fifth, 12th, 14th and 16th holes while the lone blemish was on the 11th. PTI
Atwal ends tied 18th at LaSalle Bank Golf Open
Glenview (USA), June 4 (PTI) Arjun Atwal missed the top-10 finish by a whisker as he signed off at tied 18th after returning a final-round card of four-under 68 at the LaSalle Bank Open golf tournament on the US Nationwide Tour here.
Atwal, who has limited exemption on PGA Tour and is on Nationwide Tour -- the second rung tour in the US, signed off with a total of 11-under 277.
The Orlando-based golfer was in fine form as he played out a blemish-free front nine -- studded with birdies on the third and fifth holes -- to make the turn two-under.
Atwal then sank in a hat-trick of birdies from 12th to 14th before dropping his only bogey of the day on 16th, which denied him a top-10 finish as a crowded leaderboard saw nine golfers on tied ninth at 12-under.
However, Atwal had reasons to smile as he re-discovered his putting touch to top the figures for putts per green in regulation.
He averaged 26.5 putts in the final round.
Atwal has now finished among the top-25 in four out of six starts and has been in the top-10 once in Nationwide this year.
He is 47th on Nationwide Money List and a finish inside top-25 will earn him an automatic berth for the PGA Tour next season.
Meanwhile, John Riegger, claimed his first win in 290 starts even as clouds threatened to stop play at the Glen Club.
Riegger shot a four-under 68 that gave him an aggregate of 17-under 271 for his first victory since 1996. PTI
India and Brazil to shape global economy: Brazilian President
New Delhi, June 4 (PTI) As India and Brazil set out an ambitious bilateral trade target of USD 10 billion by 2010, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva today said the new world economic order cannot be negotiated without taking on board two of the most important developing nations.
"Big countries have to sit and bargain with us... We do not need lessons, we can teach them (developed countries)," Lula, who is on a visit to India, said at a joint luncheon meeting hosted by apex business chambers.
The Brazilian President, who earlier called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, told industry leaders that the two countries had decided to step up trade from the present USD 2.4 billion to USD 10 billion by 2010.
He said Brazil can transfer bio-fuel technology to India, besides help improve the South Asian country's farm productivity.
Brazil is the largest producer of ethanol at 16 billion litres a year and India, which imports more than 70 per cent of its oil requirements, has launched a programme to blend ethanol with petrol to reduce import dependence.
Lula said India can contribute in the pharmaceutical sector, and that both countries can cooperate in the engineering sector.
One of the key initiatives by Prime Minister Singh and President Lula was the launch of the CEOs' Forum from the two countries.
"We have launched the CEOs' Forum to stimulate trade and investment. To achieve the target, we must diversify trade which is restricted to less value added products," he said. PTI
Hyundai doemstic sales up 3 pc in May
New Delhi, June 4 (PTI) Hyundai Motor India Ltd today reported a 3.35 per cent increase in domestic car sales at 16,643 units in May as against 16,102 units in the same month last year.
Cumulative sales during the month rose three per cent to 26,648 units, including 10,005 units of exports, as against 25,883 units in May last year, a company release said.
In the A2 segment (Santro and Getz), the company sold 23,154 units, while in A3 segment (Accent and Verna) it clocked 3,241 units.
The A4 segment (Elantra) registered sales of 111 units, and the A5 (Sonata Embera) sold 116 units, while SUV accounted for 26 units during May, it said.
HMIL Vice-President Arvind Saxena said while the market was slow, the company has managed to increase sales from last year and was confident it would continue to grow. PTI
Govt may raise sugar buffer stock: Pawar
Mumbai, Jun 4 (PTI) The government is considering raising the sugar buffer stock to five million tonnes to check a steep fall in prices, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said today.
Pawar told reporters after inaugurating Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) Logistics Park at Navi Mumbai's Dronagiri Node that the government was considering to raise the buffer stock for sugar from two million tonnes at present.
The government had earlier announced a two million tonne buffer stock in the wake of excess sugar production and its falling prices in the domestic market.
To a question on wheat imports, Pawar said it was unlikely that a new wheat tender would be floated in the near future and it might only be to create buffer stock.
"There is comfortable stock position in wheat which stands at 10.7 mn tonnes as against 9.2 mn tonnes last year along with a buffer stock of 4.5 mn tonnes making it more than 15 mn tonnes in total," he said.
State Trading Corporation had last week scrapped its tender for import of one million tonnes of wheat due to high prices quoted by the suppliers.
Food and Public Distribution Secretary T Nanda Kumar said the government might cut duty on edible oils to tame prices.
"The import duty on edible oil may be cut further to check prices and increase supply," Kumar said. PTI
Govt needs to give subsidies for hydrogen fuel: Montek
New Delhi, Jun 4 (PTI) The government should give subsidies for development of hydrogen fuel to meet the target of one million vehicles driven by the gas by 2020, Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said today.
"The cost of developing hydrogen fuel are high but it can be negated if government can subsidise. However, we need to decide if subsidies should be given on existing applications to increase scale or on research," he said at a CII conclave.
He said hydrogen technology was not economic at present and unless subsidised, the fuel would not to be commercially viable.
"If we recognise that it is a potential resource there is no harm in using subsidies to jump start it but....It is unlikely to become a plausible solution in energy security if it continued to be subsidised perpetually," Ahluwalia added.
He said one of the ways could be to leverage on existing research and devise a business model was required for successful commercialisation of hydrogen fuel technology.
On the occasion, Minister for New and Renewable Energy Vilas Muttemwar said the National Hydrogen Energy Roadmap had proposed two major initiatives to develop hydrogen-powered engines and fuel cells-based automobiles from two and three-wheelers to heavy vehicles. PTI
Mocha coffee chain in expansion mode, plans overseas foray
Mumbai, June 4 (PTI) Coffee chain Mocha has embarked upon an expansion plan to enhance its network to 60 outlets from the current 14, besides entering overseas markets like Africa, Europe, the Gulf and south-east Asia, by end-2008.
"We aim to have 60 Mocha outlets across the country by end-2008 in Tier-II cities, eastern India and the metros," Satyendra Sinh Dasondi, Executive Director, Impresario Entertainment and Hospitality (IEHPL), which owns the coffee chain, told PTI here.
All the Mocha outlets will be franchised. Each Mocha outlet would cost around Rs 50-70 lakh spread on 2,500-2,800 sq ft area.
The company is also planning to franchise 10 outlets in south-east Asia in 3-4 years with its first outlet in Singapore scheduled to open by end-2008. After this, Mocha plans to open a series of outlets in Dubai, Africa and Europe.
"We will open one in Dubai, three stores in Africa and a few in Europe," Dasondi said.
Currently Mocha outlets are present in cities like Chandigarh, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Hyderabad.
IEHPL would also open two 'Stone House Grills' restaurants under its fine-dine division in Pune and Bangalore in the next three and nine months respectively, he said.
The company presently has a Salt Water Grill in Mumbai and a Smoke House Grill in Delhi under the fine-dine division. PTI
Lanka army chief calls for new truce with LTTE
Colombo, June 4 (PTI) Sri Lanka's army chief has said the five year-old Norwegian-brokered ceasefire between the government and the LTTE was "not functioning" on the ground and demanded a new truce with imposition of strict conditions on the Tamil rebels.
"At the moment the CFA (Ceasefire Agreement) is not functioning, because fighting is going on," Lt General Sarath Finseka said in an interview published today in the state-run Daily News.
His remarks came even as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam smashed an entire army defence line resulting in heavy losses on both sides.
"There is no ceasefire today, there is fighting," Fonseka has said.
"From the date the ceasefire agreement was signed, we tried our best to live with the ceasefire and uphold it. But when they (LTTE) started attacking us starting from Mavilaru, Sampur and Muhamalai then we cannot think of the ceasefire agreement and get attacked and lose our lives and property. We had to counter attack," he told the paper.
He said there should be a fresh ceasefire agreement with new conditions.
"The Government might lay down some conditions so that the LTTE can't take advantage like bringing weapons, killing the opponents, consolidating their military defences; they should not do these types of things during ceasefire," Fonseka said.
His remarks came in the backdrop of Sri Lanka's foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollegama saying in Singapore that the government was not contemplating vacating the February 2002 truce. PTI
Indo-UAE joint commission meeting on June 5-6
Dubai, Jun 4 (PTI) The ninth meeting of the Indo-UAE joint commission, which is to be held in New Delhi during June 5-6, is expected to provide a new thrust to close ties between the two countries.
The last meeting of the joint commission took place in 1994, but now the exchanges between the two countries are institutionalised and are being held regularly.
The UAE side will be led by the Foreign Minister Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan, who is heading a 30-member team for the meeting while the Indian side will be led by the External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
In an interview to PTI, the UAE minister had said that the meeting will provide a great scope for a further diversification of and deepening of the relationship between the two countries in all fields.
"I believe that the joint commission can play a major role in helping to define that new phase of the links between our two countries," the minister had said.
The Indian ambassador to UAE C M Bhandari was also optimistic saying though the commission is meeting after a long time, now institutional framework is in place and meeting regularly.
"There is no fixed agenda for the meeting, but all aspects of the bilateral relations will be discussed," he added. PTI
Air-conditioning in China to be regulated at 26 degree celsius
Beijing, Jun 4 (PTI) The temperature of all air-conditioned public rooms in China should be kept at no lower than 26 degrees centigrade, the cabinet has ordered as part of the energy saving measures.
The State Council, or the cabinet, imposed the limit in a circular to all central and local government bodies, as an in effort to save China's limited energy resources and brace for the upcoming electricity demand peak in summer.
All government agencies, associations, groups, companies and private owners in public buildings should "strictly comply with this rule", the circular said.
Doors and windows should be closed when air conditioners are on, it said, adding that the temperature ceiling in winter at 20 degrees centigrade.
The circular also bans air-conditioners with low energy efficiency from entering the market and encourages users to make technical changes to make air-conditioners more energy-saving.
China's need of energy has soared as the economy has grown. The shortages of coal, electric power, petroleum and shipping capacity are the big challenges that China faces in its development.
Yesterday, the State Council reiterated its intention to meet strict energy efficiency and pollutant reduction targets in an official work plan.
The plan shows that China will stick to the original plan of energy saving as well as reducing major pollutant discharges by 10 per cent. PTI
Fear of Al-Qaeda attack on US, UK interests in Pak: report
Islamabad, June 4 (PTI) Security forces in Pakistan have been put on high alert after intelligence agencies warned of attacks by Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants on embassies, consulates and citizens of US and UK.
Al Qaeda and the Taliban are planning suicide and rocket attacks on the embassies, consulates, NGOs, firms and citizens of the US and UK in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, intelligence agencies warned in reports submitted to the Interior Ministry.
The Interior Ministry had directed the Home Secretaries and Inspectors General of Police of these provinces and the Islamabad Chief Commissioner to enhance the security for the suspected Al-Qaeda and Taliban targets.
They have been directed to ensure regular searches of areas housing the US and UK installations and monitor madrassas, hotels and guesthouses, the Daily Times said quoting intelligence sources.
The Islamabad administration has been directed to ensure daily patrolling of the Diplomatic Enclave besides deployment of extra police force in areas housing diplomats, missions and foreign NGOs, firms and citizens. PTI
Newsletter-Bihar: Where is Ankit? Kidnapped on Apr 12, the kid is still missing
Ajay Kumar Patna, Jun 4 (PTI) "Kahan hai ankit (Where is Ankit?) It is still a question crying for an answer in Bihar with police groping in dark whether the six-year-old son of a trader, who was kidnapped from Alamganj area here on April 12, is alive or dead.
Ankit, a prep student of St. Paul School, was last seen while taking ice cream with a fellow pupil with an unidentified person on April 12 at his school and is untraceable since then.
Police raided several places and carried out digging operations on the information provided by Balram Paswan, servant of the businessman family and alleged kingpin of the abduction case, who had later retracted his 'confession' having strangled the boy to death and burying his body in a riverine near Sarinchak-Rahat road in Chapra.
Police teams from Patna, Siwan, Muzaffarpur and Saran districts had carried out the digging operations for five days in the mid of this month but could not trace the body.
What they did discover during the operations were Ankit's half-pant and socks.PTI
Newsletter-Assam: Assamese unite against ULFA
Enaxi Saikia Barua
Guwahati, Jun 3 (PTI) As spate of bomb blasts rock various parts of the state with deathly regularity there is an upsurge of anger among the people against the ULFA - the banned insurgent outfit.
Growing support to organised protests by various bodies against the ULFA's onslaught on the people is evident during rallies where the common man on the street is asking "for whom is the ULFA fighting when it is killing its own people?" Bhabani Hazarika, who happened to be in the Athgaon area during the May 26 bomb blast that killed 7 persons and injured 30 others says, "the ULFA needs to do some serious introspection as for whom and how are they trying to secure sovereignty of Assam. Is it by killing their own people? Their victims are not foreigners, but their own people from Assam".
"If the ULFA leaders sitting in their comfortable luxurious secure homes in Bangladesh are thinking of liberating us from India by attacking us only, then they need to think again. The people have no faith and confidence in them. We are Indians and will remain so", Hazarika asserts.
Seven-year-old Ishani who is a class two student in one of the four schools near the Athgaon bomb blast site is shell- shocked today and afraid to go to school as she fears she may die from a bomb explosion to "never see my mummy".
"The ULFA is always quick to point out that human rights violation is being committed when any of their militants are killed in an encounter with the security forces. But what happens when they kill innocent people", a grieving relative asks. PTI
The business of water
Snehesh Alex Philip
New Delhi, (PTI) As taps go dry a bit too soon and the mercury fluctuates its time for the packaged water industry to 'tap' the thirst market.
As various cities continue to bear with less supply of water through the local water bodies, the only option left for the consumer is to go in for packaged water.
"As per our study, the demand for water in Delhi is around 3,800 million litres per day while the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) is able to provide only 2,100 million litres per day (after taking into account pilferage and supply losses) though they claim to provide more.
Hence, we see a gap of 1,700 million litres per day," says S V Suresh Babu of the Centre for Science and Environment. The CSE study shows a big gap in the demand and supply of water in Delhi.
"Metros usually have a huge floating population and hence there is added pressure on water supply," adds Babu.
"Total size of packaged drinking water business as per our study is estimated around Rs 1800 cr and is further poised to grow at around Rs 2,200 cr by 2010," says Balajith Shetty, Project Head, Manickchand Oxyrich, a brand of bottled water.
The expected growth in the market and increasing competition has seen new players entering the market and market stalwarts launching new variants.
Bisleri, which recently launched the 'Natural Mountain Water' is equally optimistic about the growth. "The growth prospect for this segment is unlimited," says Ramesh Chauhan, Chairman, Bisleri.
Sources in Kinley, another major player in the packaged water market and claiming to have over 22 per cent of market share says, "Majority of Kinley's market lies in the six metros ie Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore."
One of the main markets for every packaged water company is Chennai which witnesses huge consumption of bottled packaged water. It is estimated that there are times when the city has seen the sale of packaged water shooting up by nearly 10 lakh litres a day.
Chennai is known for the presence of small water packets that cost Rs 1 for 250 ml. These do brisk business and emerge as what is known as 'Water Lobby.'
Along with the packaged water sector, unorganised segments like private water tankers, roadside vendors are also raking in profits.
"Since the water supply is short, we depend on both the DJB as well as private water tankers says," Suman Pai, resident of B1 block, Vasant Kunj, one of the posh area of the capital and also witnessing one of the worst water shortage.
She adds, "This year DJB has been quick to our responses though at times we have to bribe the drivers with Rs 100 even though the entire procedure is supposed to be free." "We end up paying huge money to private water tankers the cost of which goes into few thousands," says G Gurumurthy, resident of Dwarka, which also witnesses water shortage.
Roadside water vendors selling a glass of water for Rs 50 paise found almost on every road in the capital are also happy with the rising heat.
"This cart can store nearly 500 litres of water and I end up selling around half of it. Summer is a good business time for us" says Raju Kumar, a vendor in Connaught Place.
With a harsher summer looming ahead, the water business segment is poised to see fierce competition. PTI
Lifestyle: Upwardly mobile!
Anurag Sharma
New Delhi, (PTI) For 58-year-old Ram Babu, who runs a small shop dealing with old newspapers and other scrap from residents in Dwarka, a satellite city on the outskirts of the capital, business has witnessed a considerable rise ever since he purchased a cell phone.
Babu, who previously cycled through the by-lanes of this rapidly developing suburb, frequently entering into arguments with security guards of the numerous housing societies there, life is a lot more comfortable now.
Now, he takes calls on his cell phone sitting comfortable in his tiny shed that has newspapers stacked in neat rows.
"I am happy because earlier I used to cover only five societies, but with the phone I am doing ten societies now. People call me on the phone and I have no problem with the security guards as they are instructed to let me in, says Babu with a smile.
With prices of handsets dipping and tariffs becoming more affordable, even those in the lower income bracket are buying mobiles. Be it the next door 'chaiwala,' the 'dhobi,' the milkman, the 'sabziwallah' or the canteen boy, all sport the ubiquitous instrument.
Deepak Gupta, who lives in Ber Sarai and is preparing for civil services exams, says, "my sweeper is a busy guy. He works in 10-15 buildings and if you need him, you have to call him on his mobile." "I save lot of time because of this mobile. Now there is no need to go in every house looking for work. I have circulated my number to every household and they call me in advance, if there is work," says Vinod, a sweeper. PTI
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