New Delhi, February 6
Close to 300 Northeastern students were detained by the police when they tried to march to Parliament for demanding swift action in Nido Tania's murder case.

Members of Parliament arrived at the Parliament Street police station to show their support to the students, but the students argued with them for allegedly not being present in the first few days of the protest against 18-year-old Tania's murder. Tania was the son of an Arunachal Pradesh MLA, Nido Pavitra.

The students gathered at Jantar Mantar about 10 am today. According to Nabam Sjingu, a Northeastern students' leader, close to 600 students had assembled at Jantar Mantar. However, the police said about 300 students were protesting at the site.

About 11.30 am, the students marched from Jantar Mantar and were stopped by the police at a barricade located in front of the Parliament Street police station. "We told them that they cannot march further towards Parliament. But they said they want to and were willing to be arrested," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi District) S.B.S. Tyagi, adding that about 300 students were detained at the police station.

"It was a peaceful protest, so no case has been registered. Also, they did not violate Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure that has been implemented at the area of Parliament," he explained. Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure prohibits the 'unlawful' assembly of five or more people in a group.

Members of Parliament and politicians from Northeast arrived at the police station. "We argued with them, blamed and abused them as they did not join the protest. After we left the police station, we went with them to Jantar Mantar where they assured us that they would take certain measures in Parliament to help us achieve our demands," said Sjingu.

The students have made 16 demands to the government in the wake of Tania's death. Some of them are: conducting a magisterial inquiry into Tania's death, transfer of his case to the CBI or a special investigative team with a representative from the Northeast, suspension of police personnel found wanting in their duty, designation of a fast-track court for a speedy trial of the case, setting up of another committee headed by a retired SC judge to probe violence against the women and youth of the Northeast in general and enactment of anti-racial law within three months.

On January 29, Tania was allegedly beaten by some shopkeepers in Lajpat Nagar market, South Delhi, after he broke a glass counter protesting against their racial slur. After the incident, Tania slept at his sister's house in Delhi and was found dead the next day. The police registered a case of murder and held five people, including two juveniles, for allegedly assaulting Tania.

The Northeastern students plan to continue their protest and claim that they will march to every college on North Campus of Delhi University on Saturday and sensitise students on preventing racial abuse of the Northeast community.

New Delhi, February 6
Reacting strongly to BJP senior leader Arun Jaitley's remark in which he termed the AAP an "urban naxalite", AAP leader Sanjay Singh today said if activism and protesting on roads is naxalism then BJP too qualifies to be one.

"If BJP considers protesting on streets urban naxalism then it should look back how it took to streets during the 1975 JP movement," said Singh, briefing reporters at the Hanuman Road party office.

Further, on BJP's allegations that AAP and Congress are close aides, Singh said that the BJP and Congress join hands for corruption and that is why they are worried due to the Janlokpal legislation.

"The AAP government is making the law for ensuring good governance. Why are both the Congress and BJP scared? They are worried about all that they have done in the past," he said.

Taking on the private power discoms, he added that they are scared of CAG audit because they know they would be exposed once the inquiry begins.

A day after the Third Front was formed, the party in response to a question reiterated its stand that it is in no mood to join the anti-Congress and BJP group and continue to work towards a new system with like-minded individuals.

The latest one to join AAP is former social welfare minister in the Bihar government, Parveen Amanullah, who quit the JD (U) and relinquished her post on Tuesday.

She along with another colleague of hers was in the national Capital today to announce this when she pointed at conflict within the Nitish Kumar government in implementing policies.

"There is deficiency in the functioning of the government be it in schools, hospitals or aanganwadis, and Swaraj is the solution. There is corruption, lack of accountability and transparency. In most of the states, the Chief Minister has most of the power and Bihar is one of those states," she said.

I have been in talks with AAP for a month and have finally decided to join the party," she added.

While the party has not decided whether Parveen will contest, it said she would play a key role in the party activities in the state ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. "She has introduced Swaraj in her department earlier and her joining will give strength to the party in Bihar at ground level. If she wants to contest she has to fill in the form and then the party would decide," said Singh.

New Delhi, February 6
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will address auto drivers in Burari tomorrow. In the meeting, the Chief Minister is expected to hear the grievances of auto drivers, who played a major role in the Aam Adami Party's success in the elections by putting up party's posters on their vehicles during the campaign.

"The drivers stood by the AAP when very few believed that we could actually win more than a handful of seats, let alone form the government. Now, Kejriwal will address a mahasabha of auto drivers in Burari," said one of the party members.

"In the mahasabha, their problems will be listened to and the government will try to finalise measures for helping these drivers earn an honest living while keeping consumer benefits in mind," he said.

New Delhi, February 6
As a part of its parliamentary election campaign, Delhi BJP will hold the biggest tea party of Delhi ‘Namo Chai Charcha’ comprising more than 10,000 persons on February 10 at Barah Tooti Chowk. The event is organised to convey Narendra Modi's message to the people, "Vikas Bhi, Imaan Bhi, Garibon Ka Samman Bhi".

Addressing a press conference today, Delhi BJP president Vijay Goel said, "This Namo Chai Charcha will focus on some key issue of governance and corruption. We will take this opportunity to highlight the fact that both the Congress-led UPA at the Centre and the AAP-Congress alliance government in Delhi are corrupt, inefficient, non-performer and anti-people."

The party has planned a series of innovative events as part of its Lok Sabha campaign. "We have set up a task force to come out with publicity material that will be distributed at Namo Chai Charcha and other such events in coming days. This time the election campaign is different from the previous Lok Sabha campaigns as with increasing use of social media and other interactive tools, our campaign has become very interactive in Delhi," said Goel.

"We are inviting people to contribute with the slogans. Their suggestions are being asked for party's national manifesto also.

"During all the activities for Lok Sabha election campaign, governance and corruption will figure prominently in party's campaign in Delhi. In fact, the BJP has maintained a persistent pressure on the AAP to act against Congress leaders on issue of corruption. Due to this pressure, the AAP has been forced to send some CWG cases to the Anti-Corruption Branch. However, all this could be eyewash The BJP, however, would not allow either AAP or Congress to run away with corruption," he said.

New Delhi, February 6
An alliance of as many as 35 women's groups--33 per cent Now-demanded here today the passage of the Women's Reservation Bill while making it clear that they are not ready to accept another setback on the historic Bill this time.

Women's groups are concerned about the uncertainties that the Bill, which has been in the making since 1996, will be put on the shelf again if not passed in the last session of Parliament. In this regard, activists in the next two weeks will mobilise support and involve the youth through an online campaign and stage a protest on February 12.

Calling for action, women activists Jagmati Sangwan, Shabnam Hashmi and Ranjana Kumari said women comprise nearly 50 per cent of India's population yet they continue to be under-represented in all aspects of politics.

The marginalisation of women from politics is clear as today, with only 10.9 per cent of the parliamentary seats being held by women and women making up less than one per cent of ministers and four per cent of the negotiators in major development processes, they said.

Annie Raja, a senior CPI leader and Shobha Ozha, national president of the All India Mahila Congress, stood in solidarity of the purpose and stressed that all political parties need to come together and pass the Bill.

The demand for Women's Reservation Bill being passed in the current session of the Lok Sabha, is also being rallied through a strong online and mobile push to connect to the youth, particularly women.

A number of partners have been brought together for online advocacy engagement. There is a petition under way on Change.org. A toll-free hotline has also been set up by Gramvani for people to support the demand.

The idea is to back the digital presence among the youth to make the 33 per cent Now network's offline work of campaigning visible. 

New Delhi, February 6
Seventeen minor boys were rescued from bag and plastic accessory-making units during a raid in Central Delhi, following a complaint by Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA), an NGO. Six employers were also arrested in this regard, said Delhi police and labour department officials who carried the operation.

The children had been trafficked into the Capital from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh states and were forced to work in appalling conditions at bag and plastic units at Qutub Road and Ramnagar localities of Paharganj. The youngest victim rescued is aged 10.

The children said they were made to work for 14 hours a day and paid a meagre Rs 12 per day. Preliminary medical tests revealed a high level of malnourishment among the victims. A 12-year-old boy, who is suffering from chicken pox, said his employer did not take him to a doctor despite repeated pleas by him.

The children have been sent to Mukti Ashram, a child home run by the BBA, on directions of the Child Welfare Committee. Chairperson of the BBA, R.S. Chaurasia said, "The number of child labourers is still huge in Delhi, but the state government is not doing much. It needs to come out strongly so that the menace is eradicated."

Two days ago, 11 minor boys were rescued from bonded labour in bindi-making and steel polishing units in JJ Colony and the Tri Nagar areas of North-West Delhi.

Karol Bagh SDM Pawan Kamra said, "We are doing whatever we can to curb child labour."

New Delhi, February 6
Changes in urban lifestyles have led to a sharp increase in cardiac diseases among the youth and women, according to the findings of the "State of the Indian Heart", a compilation of cardiac disease trends by Fortis Escorts Heart Institute.

The study suggests that the percentage of women undergoing coronary artery bypass surgeries has increased from 6 per cent in the late 1980s and early 1990s to 15 per cent in the past three-four years, an alarming increase of 150 per cent.

Dr Ashok Seth, chairman, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, Delhi, said, "With the changing social norms, women today enjoy an equal footing in society and are working longer hours, shouldering greater stress and dual responsibility of home and career. All these aspects exacerbate the early onset of the disease."

While men became early victims of cardiac diseases, women were especially vulnerable from 50-plus years of age. From a mere eight per cent women having coronary interventions in the age group of 40-49 years, the number jumped to 28 per cent in the 50-59 years category, stated the study.

Between 60 and 69 years, women were at a higher risk than men in the same age group. This is consistent with the trends observed in Western Europe and North America. Experts attribute this to menopause in women following which they no longer have the hormonal protection of oestrogen, the findings disclosed.

New Delhi, February 6
A 13-year-old girl was allegedly raped twice by her 21-year-old neighbour in southwest Delhi's Dabri area. The accused has been arrested and is identified by the police as Sonu.

According to the police, the incident came to light on Thursday, after the girl with her family approached the police.

She is a class VIII student. She complained to the police that on Saturday, Sonu allegedly barged into her house when she was alone and raped her. As she tried to repulse his advances, he threatened her with dire consequences.

On Monday, the accused allegedly raped her again in the absence of her parents, threatening her all along. When he tried to commit the act again on Wednesday, she informed her parents about what had happened to her. They then approached the police on Thursday.

The police have registered a case after rape was confirmed in the medical report.

New Delhi, February 6
An 11-year-old boy died when a coffee machine exploded during his uncle's wedding in east Delhi's Gandhi Nagar locality on Wednesday.

A case has been filed against the contractor, but the police are yet to arrest him.

The deceased has been identified as Harsh Kumar, who was a class five student. He lived with his family at Kachcha Bazaar in Ambala. He was in Delhi to attend the wedding.

On Wednesday, Harsh's family went to Chand Mohalla in Gandhi Nagar to attend the function. While the dinner was being served, there was an explosion in a coffee-making machine kept at the venue.

Harsh reportedly suffered fractures during the explosion. He was taken to the Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital and Max Hospital in Saket.

The boy succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday.

His body was handed over to his family after the postmortem on Thursday. He is survived by his father Sunil Kumar, mother Sashi Devi and sister Nisha.