New Delhi, December 16
To mark the first anniversary of the Delhi fatal gangrape, the national Capital today saw citizens and activists participating in protest marches at Jantar Mantar and severe programmes in remembrance of the braveheart who forced the authorities to pull up its socks and bring out major overhaul in the anti-rape laws were being organised until evening.

Calling for a stringent implementation of the new Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013, and speedy delivery of justice through fast-track courts in particular people joined in hoards at the site.

Musical tributes were paid by a group called Citizen Artist Group with performances in the backdrop of a banner which read - Nirbhaya: Women without fear while students of Foundation of Rajdhani Clinical Physiotherapists were seen raising slogans such as, "Say no to violence against women".

There were volunteers under the banner of 16 December Kranti - a Facebook account - who were demanding death penalty for all rapists, the police and judicial reforms and speedy redressal system. Many like Rekha Kacharia and Kamla Sehgal had come to express solidarity for the cause.

"Rape cases have increased in the city. Women neither young nor old are safe in Delhi and it is time they have to take charge of their life," they said. There were candle light marches at several places, including Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University.

The JNUSU held a candle march from JNU Ganga Dhaba and passed through the fateful bus stop of Munirka, where Nirbhaya was brutally raped, culminating in a public meeting addressed by addressed by Supreme Court advocate Vrinda Grover, gay rights activist Gautam Bhan, AIPWA secretary Kavita Krishnan, Prof Kamal Mitra Chenoy and JNUTA president Sanjay Pandey among others.

"We are here to keep the flame alive for freedom without fear, against patriarchy, sexual violence and gender discrimination, to seek accountability of the political establishment and state machinery for their complicity in perpetuating misogyny and gender violence," said Akbar Chawdhary, JNUSU president.

Resolving to carry forward the struggle against sexual violence and to push for gender-just laws, JNUSU demanded for full implementation of the Justice Verma Committee recommendations, immediate ordinance to reverse the Supreme Court verdict on Section 377 of the IPC that criminalises same-sex expressions, strict accountability of the state machinery, exemplary action against political leaders and people occupying positions of power for indulging in misogyny and rape culture.

Last year, from the slogan "Hang the Rapists" and "We want Justice", the streets soon started reverberating with the battle-cry for freedom without fear for all. "To the consternation of many, it marked a paradigm shift from the patronising framework of vengeance and patriarchal "protection" for women to the notion of "freedom" and "autonomy" for women, said Anubhuti Agnes Bara, JNUSU vice-president.

"Perpetrators should be punished. We should also take this opportunity to go further and demand safety and security of women from all forms of violence. This should be a national commitment by the government, all political parties and civil society," stressed Ruchira Gupta founder of the Apne Aap Women Worldwide.

According to the protesters, numerous cases have exposed the government's irresponsible behaviour, not least being the case of rape of the five-year-old girl in April, whose life and family remain traumatised even today, with the house owners refusing them accommodation in Delhi and schools refusing to admit the girl!

Similarly, the shocking case of a DU employee, Pavitra, who was forced to commit suicide as the authorities allegedly witch-hunted her for complaining against sexual harassment and nobody offered justice to her, they pointed.

In both the cases, popular protest broke out, but the government silently receded into inaction once the media glare was over. Popular anger generated by these movements has seen the unresponsive government ousted of power, said young students.

New Delhi, December 16
Delhi BJP chief Vijay Goel today announced for setting up a task force to monitor the implementation of various steps that need to be taken in Delhi by authorities concerned for the safety of the women. The task force will be headed by Delhi BJP general secretary Shikha Rai.

Expressing concern over lack of implementation of various steps that were promised to be taken in Delhi in wake of the Nirbhaya case, Goel said, "It has been one year since the brutal rape happened and unfortunately nothing much seems to be happening at the ground level when it comes to implementation of measures required to provide safety for women in the city."

"There have been no allocations from the Rs 1,000 crore Nirbhaya Fund set up by the UPA Government and the number of women personnel in the Delhi Police stands at mere 7 per cent. It should be at least 33 per cent of the police force. There are still several parts of the city which do not have proper lighting provisions becoming danger zones for the women. All DTC buses and auto-rickshaws were to be fitted with GPS, but it has not been done yet. "

The task force set up by the BJP will pursue all these matters with the authorities concerned and build public opinion to put pressure on authorities for speedy implementation of measures required to make city safe for women, He said.

He emphasised that there is need to build awareness in society to respect the women and this could be done by laying greater emphasis on building strong character right from the early days through a better education system.

"Safety and dignity of women are key to progress of any society and such issues are above any political consideration. All stakeholders must come together and work towards making our city a safe and dignified place for women. The BJP is giving this issue top priority," he added.

New Delhi, December 16
Leaders of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) today criticized the allegation levied by Aam Aadmi Party coordinator Arvind Kejriwal, saying that they are politically motivated.

Leader of the House in the SDMC Subhash Arya said Kejriwal's allegation is an effort to defame 1.50 lakh employees working in three corporations. "He is only raising allegation but never submit any proof against them. If any proof is available with him against municipal employees, he can provided them to vigilance department of the corporation and if any proof against the municipal councillor is available for misdeed, he can present it to the Lokayukta of Delhi," said Arya.

Kejriwal has alleged Municipal Corruption of carrying out high-level corruption. He alleged that the safai karamcharis in the corporation are paid Rs 4,000 against the signature of 10,000.

"In the sting operation the AAP leaders are raising fund immorally on camera and Kejriwal given clean chit to them without any inquiry. His voice against corruption is totally is unethical as he is adopting double standards on these issues," said Arya.

Instead of forming government, Arya said, Kejriwal is busy in demanding inquiries.

"They are demanding inquiry for retired judge on these issues. Instead of forming the government in Delhi, he is levying unnecessary false charges against the municipal employees.

He said that safai karamcharis of the corporation are getting salary by cheque or by ECS not in cash. The allegation is totally baseless and false. Money is deposited directly in the account of municipal employees.

If any allegation is there against municipal employees, anyone can file complaint with the vigilance department, CBI, Anticorruption or the Delhi Police. The Lokayukt can take cognizance against the corrupt councillors," he added.

New Delhi, December 16
A day after Jai Prakash Agarwal resigned from the post of president of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC), Sheila Dikshit addressed party workers and urged them to get ready for fresh elections.

Trying to lift the morale of the party which faced shameful defeat in the Delhi Assembly elections where the party won only eight seats out of 70, Dikshit said that the Congress has always bounced back every time after lagging behind in election race.

Dikshit while addressing party workers for the first time after election results exhorted them to sincerely work together resulting in a "thumping" victory in time to come. She exhorted the workers to be ready to meet any challenge.

She addressed around 800 active Congress workers from the Rajinder Nagar Assembly Segment and stated that she has all faith in the capabilities of the workers.

She accused the Aam Admi Party and the BJP of running away from their responsibilities of government formation as they are not sure about their governing capabilities. She expressed confidence that when people vote again, they will keep in mind her performance in the past 15 years.

"These parties made impossible promises to people during elections," said Dikshit. The AAP had promised to cut power tariff by 50 per cent and supply 700 litres of water free to each household daily while the BJP had said that it will slash the electricity rates by 30 per cent.

Dikshit said she has confidence in the capabilities of the party workers. "If you take a vow to work hard sincerely, the party can return to power." She also expressed apprehensions of slowing down of implementation of various infrastructure projects in Delhi in the next few months as both the BJP and the Congress declined to form the government.

The Congress workers apprised Dikshit of the "indifferent attitude" of the DPCC, saying there was no cooperation from the party. Last week, Dikshit had attacked Agarwal, saying he did not enthusiastically back her in the polls.

The workers requested Dikshit to appraise party high command of their views. Former Transport Minister Ramakant Goswami, who was defeated in the polls, was also present in the meeting.

New Delhi, December 16
Delhi BJP chief Vijay Goel today said that his party had no need to reply to the AAP leader, Arvind Kajriwal, about the 18 points that he sent after meeting to the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Najeeb Jung, on last Saturday.

The BJP is the single largest party in Delhi and it has not offered its support to the AAP. It just said for constructive cooperation, if the AAP formed government.

The Congress had offered its unconditional support.

He said that now the AAP's main agenda was of parliamentary election to be held next year. The BJP will hold a meeting of its workers to ask them to be prepared for the Lok Sabha elections.

The AAP has been exposed after it refused to form the government when it got unconditional support from the Congress. The AAP has secured 28 seats in the assembly and the Congress eight. In the Delhi Assembly, only 36 seats are required to form the government.

The Congress has also accepted most of its conditions.

In its manifesto, the AAP had assured to reduce the power tariff by 50 per cent, 700 litre water to each family member in every house and full statehood for Delhi.

Now the AAP, after the Congress support, has got two third of seats that is required to form the government.

Now it should fulfil the assurances it had made during election, Goel said.

New Delhi, December 16
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) today started tunnelling work between the 5.5-km long underground Hazrat Nizamuddin and Lajpat Nagar stretch on the Mukundpur (Majlis Park)-Shiv Vihar corridor in order to provide a direct connectivity to the Sarai Kale Khan Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT) and the Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station as part of the Phase III Metro expansion project.

The Hazrat Nizamuddin Metro station will have dedicated entry and exit points connecting to the Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station and ISBT at Sarai Kale Khan. The entry and exit points at Sarai Kale Khan will be inside the ISBT complex while the points at Hazrat Nizamuddin will be within 50 m of the station complex. There will also be a third entry-exit towards Smriti Van crossing the road connecting to the station. The Metro station is slated to open for public by 2016.

Hazrat Nizamuddin is the third biggest railway terminus of the national Capital. Most south-bound trains, including Rajdhani and super fast trains, originate from here. 

New Delhi, December 16
Anti Forgery Section of Economic Offences Wing (EOW) arrested an alleged conman, Shubhendu Sorcar, who used to claim himself to be associated with the UNESCO and the Union Ministry of Human Resources Development (HRD), and his accomplice Debashree Chatterjee, who duping people of crores of rupees.

The accused were arrested from a hotel Casa-De-Bella in Jaipur. During questioning, they have claimed of running various educational activities in the north-eastern states. However, the police is yet to verify this claim.

The EOW had received a number of complaints in which it was alleged that one Prof Shubhendu Sorcar is running an organization, National Educational Research and Development (NERDP), which claimed to be an international post secondary non-profit statutory education agency in higher education, associated with international organizations with voting and funding rights with regards to the infrastructural development along with manpower development schemes in India.

Sorcar used to project that the NERDP is an organization supported by the UNESCO that is recognized by the Ministry of HRD.

The accused who claimed to be an alumnus of renowned university used to run a big office in the Hauz Khas area in order to project to his gullible victims that the NERDP was handling several big assignments across India with the support of Ministry of HRD and the UNESCO.

In order to impress upon his targets, he used to communicate with them in a manner which made them believe that they are dealing with a government functionary. The language, style of the letters adopted by him to cheat was such that it appeared that the same had been written by a government organisation.

He used to show that tenders had been floated by the NERDP and invited quotations from his targets. While in one case registered on the complaint of Ministry of HRD, he had taken Rs 80 crore as earnest money for giving contract worth Rs 4,500 crore for construction of educational hubs in major metropolitan cities across India. In another case, he took Rs 24 crore as earnest money from Sunil Dawar of M/s Dineshchandra R. Agarwal Infracon Pvt. Ltd. for giving tender worth Rs 1,200 crore for constructing a super specialty hospital at Greater Noida.

In another matter, he took close to Rs 2 crore as earnest money for giving contract of organizing an event in IGI stadium, Delhi. In order to prove his credentials, he used to provide forged letters showing sanctions from government authorities, including the Ministry of HRD and the DDA.

The accused used to organize cultural events in major cities and invited politicians, film stars and popular singers. He also organized folk events to show that his organization NERDP is an NGO dealing with the rural India. During investigation of various cases registered against him, the police found that he never used to pay the money to the event organizers.

The accused was allegedly helped by his long-time associate, Chatterjee, who used to run his office.