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Indian Express
22-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Delhi to be developed as a global event hub: Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra
The Delhi Government will soon launch a digital single-window clearance system for granting permission for events, aimed at simplifying and speeding up the approval process for organisers, Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra announced Monday. The initiative is part of a broader push to position the Capital as a global event hub under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. At a high-level roundtable meeting with officials from the Department of Tourism, Art, Culture and Language and leading event management firms, Mishra said, 'Delhi will be developed as a global event hub for live events, entertainment, and destination weddings.' He added that the government is working to introduce policy reforms for venue allocation, and boost infrastructure to support the city's events sector. Among the proposals discussed was a roadmap to support the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) sector through marketing and financial support. Organisers also suggested that permission processes for events at heritage sites in Delhi be eased and GST relaxations offered to encourage destination weddings. 'Delhi has 70 to 80 heritage monuments that can be effectively used for hosting cultural and private events,' said Mishra. The roundtable, attended by senior officials and members of the Event and Entertainment Management Association (EEMA), also flagged challenges such as high venue rental rates and limited access to public spaces. In response, Mishra said the government would ensure a 'transparent and fair' venue allocation system, and that he would bring the concerns to the attention of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. Officials from the Department of Art, Culture, and Language proposed listing government-sponsored events on commercial platforms, such as BookMyShow, to increase public engagement. Stakeholders also called for the creation of an international-standard convention centre in Delhi and suggested repurposing vacant government land for event use.
Indian Express
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
BJP slams Congress on 50th Anniversary of Emergency, marks ‘Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas' with exhibition in Delhi
To mark the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, imposed on June 25, 1975, by the then Indira Gandhi-led Congress government, the BJP government in Delhi commemorated the day as 'Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas' by inaugurating a special exhibition at Central Park in Connaught Place. The exhibition was organised by the government's Department of Art, Culture and Language, in collaboration with the Hindi Academy. It was inaugurated by Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. Paying tribute to those who resisted the Emergency, the CM drew a parallel between the pro-democracy movement of 1975 and India's freedom struggle. She lashed out at the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's government, calling it 'cruel, dictatorial, and insensitive.' 'The 21-month period that began on June 25, 1975, saw millions jailed without cause. There was no appeal, no argument, no hearing — it was the darkest chapter in the history of Indian democracy,' she said. Taking a dig at the Congress, she remarked: 'Those who once crushed democracy now ironically roam with the Constitution in their pockets, despite having disrespected it in the past.' She recalled the sacrifices of BJP leaders and veterans like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, LK Advani, Madan Lal Khurana, and Balraj Madhok, who were imprisoned during the Emergency. 'Their stories must be remembered by future generations,' she said. 'Such dark days will never return to this country, and the people will not tolerate any dictatorial attempt,' she said, adding that both the Centre and Delhi government remain committed to upholding the Constitution and its democratic values. She also announced a year-long series of programmes to honour the 'warriors of democracy' who fought against the Emergency. Minister of Art and Culture Kapil Mishra, whose department had curated the exhibition, said it showcases rare documents, many being displayed publicly for the first time. 'These documents expose how democracy was murdered during the Emergency,' he said. 'Overnight, the entire opposition was thrown behind bars, the courts were stripped of power, journalists were jailed, and media establishments shut down. The way India's democracy was attacked is something the country must never forget,' Mishra said. He called the exhibition 'not just a preservation of history, but a reminder of how democracy was defended through struggle and sacrifice.'
Indian Express
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Bakrid celebrations: what the Delhi Police's detailed advisory says on sacrifice locations, waste disposal
As Bakrid or Eid al-Adha is celebrated across the Capital on Saturday, authorities in Delhi have issued detailed advisories aimed at ensuring a peaceful and responsible celebration of the festival. Delhi Art, Culture and Language Minister Kapil Mishra took to social media on Friday to emphasise key directives, stating, 'We have sent a copy of the advisory to Delhi Police and have given clear instructions that cows and camels should not be sacrificed, sacrifices must only take place at designated slaughter houses, and no posts about the act of sacrifice should be made on social media. If this happens, immediate action will be taken.' The Delhi Police has also launched a public outreach and patrolling initiative across East Delhi. Abhishek Dhaniya, Deputy Commissioner of Police, East Delhi, highlighted the efforts on social media. Earlier, the Delhi Police shared a detailed advisory on Tuesday. It emphasised responsible celebration, compassion, and public order during Eid al-Adha, which is a symbol of sacrifice, unity, and devotion. Citizens were urged to follow strict guidelines: The police also conducted widespread vehicle checks on Friday night ahead of Bakrid celebrations on Saturday. Sanjay Kumar Jain, Joint Commissioner of Police, Southern Range, said on Friday, 'All police officials are on the field and are conducting the checks along with Delhi Traffic Police. We are ensuring that no criminal activity takes place at night.'
Hindustan Times
01-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Delhi Haat traders blame lack of fire safety: 'Lost entire life's savings'
The vibrant corridors of Dilli Haat wore a charred and silent look on Thursday morning after a massive fire broke out late Tuesday night, gutting at least 30 shops. Morning visuals from the iconic open-air market in South Delhi revealed the extent of the damage, with rows of damaged stalls and charred debris scattered across pathways. The fire, which broke out around Wednesday night, spread rapidly through the tightly packed rows of kiosks, many of them made with wood and cardboard. Delhi Fire Services chief Atul Garg, in a statement, said, "We received a call regarding a fire at the Dilli Haat Market at 8.55 pm, and 14 fire engines were rushed to the spot. A total of 30 shops were gutted. The fire has been extinguished, and no injuries were reported". Smoke was seen billowing from several shops, and flames leapt towards the sky as the blaze swept the open-air art and craft mart. At least 30 shops were gutted in the massive fire at the Dilli Haat, a popular market in south Delhi's INA area, on Wednesday night, the Delhi Fire Services said. The area was immediately evacuated, and fire tenders managed to bring the blaze under control, it added. Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra, who reached the site soon after the fire was brought under control, informed that there were no casualties in the incident. Mishra, the Minister of Art, Culture and Language, in a post on X said, "The fire at Dilli Haat has been brought under control. While several shops have been gutted, by the grace of God, there are no reports of any casualty. I am at Dilli Haat to meet those affected." While one of the shop owners claimed that goods worth at least ₹10 crore have been destroyed, another, Shauket Ahmed, said that he alone suffered a loss of at least ₹1.5 crore. "We don't know how the fire broke out, but we could not save anything," he said. The owner of shop no. 4 said, "I have lost my entire life's savings. We had set up this stall by taking a loan. Everything we earned over the years is gone." Talking to PTI, some shopkeepers claimed that there were no proper fire safety arrangements in place at the market. Vijai Kumar, who sells Madhubani paintings, said the fire spread rapidly due to the lack of firefighting equipment like fire extinguishers. "It took the fire brigade nearly one and a half hours to reach. There were no adequate arrangements in place to help us respond to such an emergency," Kumar said. The traders said the fire broke out at around 8.30 pm, possibly due to a short circuit. (with PTI inputs)
