Delhi Police intensifies security ahead of New Year
New Delhi (PTI): Delhi Police has stepped up security arrangements across the national capital ahead of the New Year, with special focus on curbing drunken driving, traffic violations and unruly behaviour, officials said on Saturday.
Nearly 20,000 police personnel, including traffic police and paramilitary forces, will be deployed across the city to ensure law and order on New Year's Eve, they said.
Security has been tightened at the city's borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh as the administration expects an influx of people from the neighbouring states for year-end celebrations, they added.
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A senior police officer said multiple pickets, barricades and vehicle-checking points will be set up across the city, especially at entry points, party zones, markets and nightlife hubs.
"The traffic police have drawn up a detailed plan to deal with drunken driving, rash driving and motorcycle stunts. Breath analysers will be used extensively at checkpoints and strict action will be taken against violators," the officer said.
He added that police teams have been instructed to immediately impound two-wheelers and four-wheelers if anyone is found indulging in dangerous stunts or driving under the influence of alcohol.
Special traffic arrangements have been drawn up for Connaught Place, Hauz Khas, major markets and areas around malls, where heavy footfall is expected on New Year's Eve. At Connaught Place, only vehicles with valid stickers will be allowed to enter the Inner Circle, police said.
Additional forces will also be deployed at India Gate, where large crowds traditionally gather to welcome the New Year, the officer said.
Station house officers have been directed to remain on the streets with their teams throughout the night to maintain law and order, while Quick Reaction Teams have been stationed at strategic locations, he added.
Apart from traffic enforcement, police teams will also check hotels, guest houses, night shelters, bus terminals and railway stations as part of routine verification drives, the officer said.
"Our teams are checking bus stands, railway stations, hotels, dharamshalas, night shelters and other locations to verify if anyone is staying without providing proper documents. We have already launched a special drive to identify people staying illegally in the national capital," he said.
Checking against drunken driving will be intensified throughout the night, and anyone found violating traffic rules will be penalised, the officer added.
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Leadership change not discussed with high command, patience will pay: DK Shivakumar
New Delhi (PTI): Amid speculation over a leadership change in the Congress-led Karnataka government, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday said the matter was not discussed with the party's top brass during his Delhi visit but added that "patience will also pay".
Speaking to reporters after meeting senior party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi as well as AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge here, Shivakumar reiterated that the party's central leadership will take a call at an appropriate time in the interest of the state.
"We are not discussing anything on this. The party's success story is very important.
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"In the interest of the party, the party leadership -- Rahulji and Khargeji, and all our senior leaders are there. They will take a call whenever they feel fit in the interest of Karnataka," he told reporters, when asked if any clarity was received from the high command on the leadership change in the state.
Asked if he was told to be patient, Shivakumar responded, "Patience will also pay."
The development comes as the Siddaramaiah government is set to complete 1,000 days in office on Friday. The state government will celebrate the milestone by announcing one more guarantee to the people — the Bhoomi guarantee, which will provide 'pakka khata' from the revenue department to those who have built houses.
Shivakumar denied that there was any power tussle between him and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. "It (power tussle) is within the BJP," he added.
On reports that some legislators are embarking on a foreign tour from February 16 to March 3, supposedly to delay power-sharing between the chief minister and his deputy, Shivakumar said he was unaware of such a development.
"I am not aware of it. I have seen only in newspapers," he said.
The deputy chief minister declined to share the outcome of the meeting with key party leaders. "Politics was discussed but that will not be discussed before the media. We are political leaders and obviously discussion happens," he said.
He did not respond when asked if there would be a change in leadership by the completion of 2,000 days in office.
Every Delhi visit by Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar in recent months has been surrounded by speculation about a change of leadership in the Karnataka government, with claims and counter-claims emerging from different sections of the party.
