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Delhi’s shame
Victim undergoes surgery
Sonia, Rahul meet protesters, appeal for calm
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Three accused opt against ID parade
Xmas carnival may be extended till New Year
Deal on air-launched BrahMos missile signed
Modi supporters on ‘thanksgiving’ mission to Shirdi
M’rashtra buses get women conductors, but no drivers
New system to boost IAF air-defence vigil
Jantar Mantar
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Political support for gang rape protest
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 23 While Yoga guru Baba Ramdev and Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal joined in the protests in the Capital this afternoon and condemned the police crackdown, political parties expressed displeasure at the way the situation was being handled. After thousands of protesters defied the prohibitory orders, which restricted mass assembly at India Gate, Ramlila Maidan and Central Secretariat, in the morning, political student outfits mainly from the Opposition parties soon charged ahead in the crowd, inviting more heat from the police. Kejriwal appeared at India Gate in support of the protesters and participated in a sit-in, questioning the crackdown. The CPI also issued a statement condemning the police action on protesters. Leaders from the Opposition BJP, including Vijay Goel, were seen among the protesters. Condemning the police crackdown, an official statement from the CPI said: “The people’s anger is fully justified. Delhi and other cities have become unsafe for our women. The National Crime Records Bureau puts the number of rapes in Delhi in 2011 at 572. Delhi has recorded 2,620 rape cases in the past five years.” “The Delhi Chief Minister expresses helplessness saying the Delhi Police falls under the Union Home Ministry. The statements of the Union Home Secretary and the Delhi Police are irresponsible. This is not acceptable,” it further read. “This is illegitimate. How can they impose Section 144? Had the government shown such resolve to deal with rapists, the situation would have been different. It seems the governmentis waging a war against its own people,” said Kejriwal. Sitting atop a bus, Baba Ramdev tried approaching India Gate in the afternoon but proceeded to Jantar Mantar after being stopped by the police. Demanding justice for the victim, Ramdev condemned the police for its crackdown on protesters. “I condemn the police brutality against peaceful youngsters. I demand death sentence for the rapists. There is nothing extraordinary about the demands of the protesters. Delhi women are not safe on roads, this was bound to happen,” he said in his address at Jantar Mantar. Annoyed at the restriction on his movement from Jantar Mantar, he said: “Why am I being stopped? Am I a rapist or a terrorist? Everyone is playing politics here. I wish to go to India Gate and support my people.”
Joining in
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Victim undergoes surgery
New Delhi, December 23 The victim was admitted to the Safdarjung Hospital after the alleged gang rape on December 16. Dr BD Athani, Medical Superintendent of the hospital, addressing mediapersons, said: “A small operation was conducted on her to wash out the fluid that had collected in her abdomen. The fluid could have caused infection. She is still critical.” The patient had complained of abdominal pain and increase in “respiratory distress”. A team of doctors, including those from the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences and GB Pant Hospital, inspected her this morning.
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Sonia, Rahul meet protesters, appeal for calm
New Delhi, December 23 Sonia Gandhi and Rahul had an over 90-minute meeting with a group of protesters at her 10 Janpath residence which was later also joined by Minister of State for Home Affairs R P N Singh and Congress spokesperson Renuka Chaudhury. Later, Singh said the group of seven persons had placed their demands. “We also noted down their suggestions and also briefed them about the steps the government has taken so far. We had told them that there is a need to maintain calm and the government is committed to take all steps,” Singh said. The meeting with the Congress president and general secretary came as the protests in the Central Delhi area turned violent for the second day running with the protesters demanding immediate action against the rapists. This was the second meeting that Sonia Gandhi had with the protesters. A bigger group of protesters had gathered outside 10 Janpath yesterday mid-night. The Congress president had come out of her residence to meet the protesters. She sat among the protesters on the ground and talked to them for close to 20 minutes. She had told them that she would be willing to meet their delegation in the morning. Today's meeting came in this context. Reports said during the meeting, Rahul told the group of youths that while he understands and respect their emotions and acknowledged that the issue was very emotive, but stressed that “decision making should happen in a rational manner.” He also asked the youth to come out with rational suggestions to ensure that such incidents are prevented and perpetrators of such crime are given punishment in a short period of time. “We had a meeting with Sonia and Rahul. She heard us and told us that the government needs time to meet all demands like amending laws,” one of the protesters told reporters here. Sonia Gandhi reportedly agreed with the protesters that women are not safe and they need better security. She told them there is a sense of insecurity and more needs to be done. She is also learnt to have assured the youth that all steps will be taken to fast-track the case so that the perpetrators get punishment.
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Three accused opt against ID parade
New Delhi, December 23 The body of lawyers at the Saket District Court in Delhi has urged advocates to not represent any of the six alleged accused, as they committed an “inhuman and barbaric” act. About hundreds of protesters today reached the gates of the court premises to demand “justice” in the case. Metropolitan Magistrate Pawan Kumar remanded Pawan Gupta, Vinay Sharma and Ram Singh, the bus driver, in judicial custody till December 6. The police informed the court that the custodial interrogation of the three accused was not required. The three men refused to undergo a test identification parade (TIP). The test is conducted for a complainant to identify the accused. In the alleged gang-rape case, the complainant is the woman’s male friend. — TNS
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BSP to support separate quota Bill for BCs: Maya
New Delhi, December 23 Favouring an early implementation of the Sachar Committee recommendations, Mayawati also sought to target the Samajwadi Party by claiming that the Akhilesh government in Uttar Pradesh had failed to implement the election promise of according 18 per cent reservation to Muslims in government jobs. During the winter session of Parliament, the SP had raised the issue of providing reservation to the OBCs - its core vote base - and Muslims in government job promotions on the lines of a Bill which gives such benefits to the SC/ STs. “The present Constitutional Amendment Bill is necessary as the Supreme Court had quashed a government policy to provide reservation in promotion to SC and ST government employees. “We support a separate Bill to grant similar benefits to the Backward Classes,” Mayawati said. She said despite being in power for nine months now, the UP Government had not implemented its election manifesto of providing 18 per cent reservation to Muslims in education and government jobs. Alleging that the Mulayam Singh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party was not interested in providing benefits to the upper castes, she said her government had lifted a ban imposed by
the SP government on government jobs to the upper castes. “We believe in ‘sarva samaj’... We also favour reservation for the poor belonging to upper castes.” Attacking the UP Chief Minister, she said the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh was deteriorating under the SP rule. — PTI
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Xmas carnival may be extended till New Year
Kolkata, December 23 “We have received a huge response from the people. Foreign tourists have also participated. The crowd is definitely much more than what it was last year. So, we may extend the dates up to January 1,” state Tourism minister Krishnendu Narayan Choudhury said. Dance and musical performances, Christmas carols singing, cooking competitions and vintage car rally were planned for December 16, 18, 21, 23 and 25. The programme is being held at the Allen Park on Park Street which has been illuminated in its entirety from Chowringee to Mullickbazar with Santa Claus in lights at intervals along the road. On December 25, noted singer Usha Uthup will lead an anthem at the carnival. The carnival also features bands like Orient Express, Krosswindz as well as carols by the Calcutta School of Music. Kolkata airport and some churches have also been illuminated for the festive season. The West Bengal government has spent about Rs 50 lakh this year on the carnival. — PTI
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Deal on air-launched BrahMos missile signed
New Delhi, December 23 An agreement was signed between BrahMos Aerospace, Russian Rosoboronexport and Sukhoi Design Bureau for developing the air-launched version of the missile here on Friday, Defence Ministry officials said here. The two sides have been holding negotiations for the joint development for quite some time now and are now hopeful that the first test of the missile would be done within next six months, they said. Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had cleared an IAF proposal worth over Rs 6,000 crore to buy BrahMos missiles for their integration with Russian-origin Su-30MKI. As per plans, the first test of the air-launched version of the supersonic cruise missile, developed jointly by India and Russia, is to be conducted by middle of next year. Two Su-30MKI of the IAF would also be modified by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at its Nashik facility where the planes will be integrated with the aerial launcher developed by the BrahMos, they said. BrahMos missiles integrated on the Su-30s will help the IAF achieve the capability to deliver a deadly blow to enemy formations from stand-off ranges of around 300 km. — PTI
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Modi supporters on ‘thanksgiving’ mission to Shirdi
Ahmedabad, December 23 From Surat, Shirdi, the famous seat of Sai Baba, is about 250 kilometres. Thousands of people visit Shirdi every day and there is nothing new that the family members of the diamond and textile traders are also on their way to pay their obeisance to Sai Baba. But what new was the reason for the mission. They had taken a vow to go for a “darshan” of the Sai if Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi won the third term in the state Assembly elections. With the vow fulfilled, they have set off for Shirdi. Most of the “pilgrims” are car owners but they had taken the vow to cover the distance on foot. About half-a-dozen tempos carrying tents and food articles required on the way are accompanying the marchers. Some 30 cars are also moving in the caravan carrying more people who too want to pay “darshan” to the Sai. This was all started about a month back by one Sanjay Movalia and his friend Mukesh Patel who took the vow to visit Shirdi if Modi was re-elected the chief minister. They then started registering other “volunteers” who might agree to take the same vow and got some 150 of them. Set off the next day of the election results, they hope to reach Shirdi by December 27 walking for about 40 to 45 kilometres a day. During the walk, they all wore white tee-shirts with Modi emblem printed on both the front and back. A few days before the polling, a woman worker in a voluntary organisation in Vadodara was approached by an elderly lady to help her to get her name registered in the voters’ list. She had her registration card issued by the Election Commission and yet her name was missing from the voters’ list. The NGO worker agreed to help if the lady promised to vote for Modi. The residents in a housing society in Ahmedabad were pleasantly surprised to see a host of office-bearers of the society approaching their doorstep to inquire if they had any problem. But the actual reason for the “service” was realised later when while leaving the office-bearers were found “canvassing” for votes for Modi. A young engineer working with a private company on being transferred to Mumbai, regretted that Modi would miss two votes - that of his and his wife’s. From Mumbai he called up his parents in Ahmedabad on the polling day just to ensure that they at least cast their votes for Modi. None of them, the diamond and textile traders of Surat, the woman NGO worker in Vadodara, the housing society office-bearers in Ahmedabad or the young engineer have anything to do with the BJP, nor were they told by Modi to “campaign” for him. But they all did it on their own. Such was the “Modi craze” in Gujarat.
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M’rashtra buses get women conductors, but no drivers
Mumbai, December 23 According to sources, the corporation has found encouraging response from women for the posts of conductors and clerical staff but none for the post of drivers. "There is not a single woman applicant for the post of driver though 30 per cent of the vacancies are reserved for them," an official of MSRTC said. According to sources, MSRTC is recruiting 8,948 drivers and 6,247 conductors across the state. Officials said they were confident that they would fill up 30 per cent of the vacancies for women conductors. "The job of a driver is seen as a tough one and there are only a handful of women who drive heavy vehicles in the state," an MSRTC official said. Under the rules in force in Maharashtra, anyone desiring to drive a passenger vehicle should have at least four years’ experience of driving heavy vehicles. The state government has refused to relax the criteria for women candidates. Some officials have suggested that government departments across the state should begin hiring women to drive heavy vehicles immediately so that there is an experienced pool of women drivers available for driving buses some years down the line. However, it is not clear if any government department has women drivers at the moment. Incidentally, the MSRTC employees' union has come out in support of the move to hire women drivers. The body has asked the state government to provide training for women to handle commercial vehicles and provide specialised training for them.
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New system to boost IAF air-defence vigil
Chandigarh, December 23 The system will generate a three-dimensional "air-situation picture" by providing location and tracking of airborne, ground and marine targets, regardless of whether these emit radiations or not, a request for information issued by the IAF a few days ago states. The system would be capable of detection, location, identification and tracking of active and passive targets within its area of coverage. It would comprise of a cluster of sensor stations all reporting their detections simultaneously to the master receiving and processing centre that will process information for detection of targets and formation of tracks. Typically, one system would comprise three to six sensor stations each (situated around by 20-35 km away) linked to one master control station. It would be possible to network many such systems deployed in a particular sector to generate an overall picture of the sector at a single master station. The PSEIS, though ground-based, would be fully mobile and have a short set-up time. The passive surveillance module would generate a comprehensive air-situation picture through reception and processing of reflections of other transmissions in the radio frequency spectrum, while the electronic intelligence module would intercept, process, analyse and report all types of radar transmissions.
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When Cong chief Sonia Gandhi checkmated Kamal Nath
Anita Katyal
Unfolding Myanmar’s past
While it is well known that the last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar is buried in Yangon, Myanmar, as he died in the neighbouring country after the British court-martialed him and exiled him there following the 1857 rebellion, but what is probably not known to many that Myanmar's last king, King Thibaw, was sent into exile in India after his reign ended in 1885 when he was defeated by the British forces. He died in Ratnagiri and is buried there. When External Affairs Minister Salman Khursheed visited Myanmar recently, he made a special trip to Bahadur Shah Zafar's mausoleum. It was a pilgrimage of sorts for Khursheed as he has often admitted he has a personal relationship with the Mughal emperor, having authored a play 'Sons of Babur' with Bahadur Shah Zafar as the central figure. Last week, it was the turn of Myanmar President Thein Sein, who was in India for the ASEAN summit, to visit the tomb of his country's last king in Ratnagiri. He is the first leader from Myanmar to have made done so, a gesture which is considered politically important in his country as it has rekindled public interest in a forgotten chapter of Myanmar's past.
Putin’s health problems
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived here on Sunday night on a proverbial flying visit to Delhi as he is slated to spend barely 17 hours here including a night stay. The short trip is being attributed to the serious back problems which Putin is suffering after he pulled a muscle during a workout early September. Apparently, the Russian leader is unable to undertake long trips as he cannot sit for a lengthy time and needs periodic heat treatment. Though Russian officials have denied reports that Putin is suffering from serious health problems, the President has cut back on his travels during the last two months. A judo black belt, the 60-year-old Putin is known to follow a strict exercise regimen and has a passion for adventure sports, having flown a motorised hang glider alongside a Siberian crane.
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The outrage against the brutal Delhi gang rape took a political turn today with political parties criticising the Delhi Police for its
violent crackdown on protesters.
Accustomed to having his way, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath was recently checkmated by none other than Congress President Sonia Gandhi. Shortly after he was given charge of this crucial ministry, Kamal Nath complained at length in an internal party meeting that it would be difficult for him to deliver as he had been entrusted with this responsibility barely a few days before the winter session of Parliament was to commence. He also expressed his helplessness about being up to the job as he had not been in touch with the Opposition members and that it would take him time to establish a rapport with them. After listening to Kamal Nath for some time, Sonia interjected to tell him, "But Kamal you have been in Parliament for 32 years. You should be knowing everybody." Effectively silenced, a chastised Kamal Nath promptly got on with his work and eventually proved that he was the right choice for the Parliamentary Affairs ministry.
