M A I N   N E W S

Facing flak, govt lists out safety steps
Buses with tinted glass, curtains to be impounded
Will have to keep cabin lights on
Tribune News Service

BJP women MPs protest outside Parliament on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Mukesh Aggarwal

New Delhi, December 19
As public anger continued to mount over the brutal gang rape of a 23-year-old girl in Delhi, the government today announced a raft of immediate safety steps, including a drive to ensure removal of tinted glasses and curtains from buses, increased police patrolling and five fast track courts to deal with such cases.

While ordinary men and women took to the streets, MPs raised the issue both inside and outside Parliament, keeping the government on its toes. Led by Sushma Swaraj, BJP MPs staged a protest in front of Parliament. Later, women MPs met Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, NCW Chairperson Mamata Sharma and Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar and demanded stringent action against the accused and proper measures to make the Capital safer for women.

Responding to queries raised by Rajya Sabha members on safety steps being taken by the government, Shinde assured immediate crackdown on buses with tinted glass and curtains. He said the buses found flouting rules would be immediately impounded.

Henceforth, all buses plying on Delhi roads would have to keep their cabin lights on and vehicles would be parked on the premises of owners. Photo identity cards of drivers would also have to be displayed on the bus with helpline numbers in bold.