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bimstec Summit 2014
BIMSTEC nations pledge to combat terrorism |
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Govt ends 2-finger test on rape victims
No attempt to bypass House on anti-graft Bills: Khurshid
Striking UP docs in no mood to relent
Sheila tipped as Kerala Governor
Two Maoists killed
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PM keeps Lanka guessing on UN rights vote
Manmohan Singh meets Rajapaksa, Sheikh Hasina at Myanmar summit Ashok Tuteja writes from Nay Pyi Taw Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday gave no firm indication to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapksa on which way India would vote at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) meeting in Geneva later this month when it takes up a resolution censuring the island nation for war crimes. The two leaders met here in the afternoon for about half an hour on the margins of the BIMSTEC Summit and discussed a range of issues, including the plight of fishermen and reconciliation between the two communities in Lanka. The PM was of the view that the fishermen issue must be tackled in a humane manner by both countries. MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said the PM told Rajapaksa that India was yet to study the draft of the resolution on Lanka that was circulated among UNHRC member countries last night in Geneva. “The resolution has important implications for our countries and, therefore, we have to keep in touch,” Singh said. The draft resolution, sponsored by the US, the UK, Montenegro, Macedonia and Mauritius, is believed to have expressed alarm at the rapid rise in violence and discrimination on the basis of religion or belief, particularly against members of religious minority groups, in the island. The draft also welcomed the UN Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay’s recommendations and conclusions on the need for an independent and credible international probe into human rights violations in Lanka. However, it refrained from calling for any sanctions against Colombo. India voted against Lanka at the UNHRC in 2012 and 2013, upsetting Colombo. This time again, the UPA government is treading cautiously on the issue, keeping in mind the overwhelming sentiment in Tamil Nadu that India should vote against Lanka. The PM also held talks with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at which he told her that India was seeking to build consensus over the proposed Teesta water sharing accord with Dhaka. However, there was no impediment in the water flow in the absence of the accord. Sheikh Hasina thanked India for supplying 500 MW power to her country, saying the move has had a positive impact in Bangladesh. On the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA), she indicated Dhaka’s happiness that the historic accord had at least now moved to Indian Parliament for ratification. The deliberations
Suu Kyi calls on PM
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday met Myanmar's pro-democracy icon and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The meeting between Manmohan Singh and Suu Kyi, held after the 3rd BIMSTEC Summit, was warm and cordial, officials said. Suu Kyi is a Nobel laureate and chairperson and secretary general of the opposition party National League for Democracy.
— PTI
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BIMSTEC nations pledge to combat terrorism
Accepting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s suggestion, the BIMSTEC nations today resolved to enhance cooperation to combat terrorism and transnational crimes besides strengthening trade and economic ties.
In a joint declaration issued at the end of their day-long summit, leaders of the seven BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) countries called for expediting the ratification for entry into force of the BIMSTEC Convention on Cooperation in Combating International Terrorism, Transnational Organised Crimes and Illicit Drug Trafficking and also for the early signing of the BIMSTEC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters. The summit leaders also directed their officials to expedite their work for the conclusion of the Agreement on Trade in Goods by the end of this year and to continue their efforts for an early finalisation of the Agreement on Services and Investments. Apart from Manmohan Singh, the summit was attended by Myanmar President U Thein Sein, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and Bhutan Prime Minister Lyonchhen Tshering Tobgay. Thailand Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra gave a miss to the summit in view of the political turmoil in her country. Thailand was represented by Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow. The member countries signed three MoUs on the establishment of the BIMSTEC permanent secretariat at Dhaka, the BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate at Noida and the BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Commission (BCIC) and the BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory in Bhutan. Manmohan Singh cautioned the BIMSTEC nations against the evolving threat of terrorism and called for stronger cooperation among them to counter the menace. He said India desired commencement of negotiations on a BIMSTEC Convention on Extradition. He also sought increased cooperation among members of the grouping in the fields of trade, energy and connectivity. He said trade and economic cooperation should be a top priority. “We should aim for an early conclusion of the BIMSTEC Free Trade Agreement for trade in goods and extend it to investment and services.” Energy, he said, should also be an area of importance. “We must connect each other through transmission highways and gas and oil pipelines.” MoUs signed
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Govt ends 2-finger test on rape victims
Nagpur, March 4 The Department of Health Research (DHR) along with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) with the help of experts formulated this set of national guidelines for dealing with criminal assault cases, which will hopefully put an end to the "horrendous" medical process, which the victims are subjected to after the sexual abuse. The DHR has also drafted a new manual to address the psycho-social impact of sexual violence including counselling that the victims should receive to alleviate her woes. These guidelines have been made available to health care providers who work with victims of sexual violence. A experts' group on Gender and Health was formed by Dr VM Katoch, Secretary to GOI-DHR and Director General ICMR, in November 2011 under the chairmanship of Dr ME Khan (Secretary, Sexual Violence Research Initiative) to formulate these guidelines which can be used at Primary Health Centres and district hospitals whenever a rape victim approaches them. Later, Indrajit Khandekar, in-charge Clinical Forensic Medicine Unit (CFMU) & Associate professor at Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (MGIMS) Sevagram- Wardha (on whose study report titled "pitiable & horrendous quality of forensic medical examination of sexual assault cases" a PIL was filed in Bombay High Court) was given the responsibility to draft these guidelines. The guidelines drafted were made available to public and experts and their opinion was sought. Following this, the guidelines were released for circulation on December 16, 2013. "It has been observed that the rape victims are usually put under a horribly judgemental microscope from the moment they call up the cops. They are often subjected to judgmentally attitudes by both doctors and other medical staff in the hospital. The new guidelines include that every hospital must have a designated room to deal with Medico Legal Cases (MLC) of sexual assault to provide privacy to the victim and must have essential equipments listed in the guidelines," said
Khandekar. There must be provisions to provide alternative clothing for the victims and smooth collection of MLC evidence keeping in mind the sensitivity of the circumstances. Fresh guidelines
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No attempt to bypass House on anti-graft Bills: Khurshid
He was talking to reporters on board Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s aircraft while returning from Myanmar after attending the BIMSTEC Summit. The PM, who was on his last overseas trip before demitting office, did not address his customary press conference. Khurshid said Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s view was very clear that the government must do something to send out a clear message about its determination to combat corruption. “Nobody should doubt our intention…there is no attempt on the part of the government to take any political advantage through the ordinance,’’ he added. Khurshid said President Pranab Mukherjee was a learned person and the government would have to keep in mind his view too about the ordinance route. In response to a question on BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, the Foreign Minister said: “My view is that Modi should not be blown up beyond his size.” About the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), he said the performance of the Arvind Kejriwal-led party in the Delhi Assembly elections was commendable. However, the way it functioned during 49 days in office in Delhi left much to be desired, he added.
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Striking UP docs in no mood to relent
Lucknow, March 4 Akhilesh today met a team of doctors protesting the arrest of 24 junior physicians following a scuffle with a Samajwadi Party leader. Healthcare services remained badly affected across the state for the fifth consecutive day. The agitation gathered steam in Agra, Varanasi, Lucknow, Gorakhpur and other places. All out patient department services were suspended, but emergency services continued, even as the number of deaths due to lack of treatment rose to 37. The doctors are on strike since February 28. A march was also brought out here Tuesday. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has threatened an all-India strike from Wednesday. After a meeting with Akhilesh Yadav Tuesday, a seven-member delegation of doctors said they were not convinced by the Chief Minister's assurances of ordering a probe into the allegations by the medical fraternity. He told the doctors that the probe would be completed within three weeks. The 24 doctors were arrested from their hostel in Kanpur after SP legislator from the city Irfan Solanki was involved in a scuffle with students and junior doctors of B.R. Ambedkar Medical College and Hospital. (With IANS inputs)
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Sheila tipped as Kerala Governor
Reports of Dikshit’s gubernatorial appointment came after the return of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from Myanamar. She will replace Nikhil Kumar, who is expected to contest the LS elections. Former Delhi police chief Nikhil Kumar contested in 2004 and won on a Congress ticket from Bihar, a state his father served as the Chief Minister. Sources in the Home Ministry said the appointment would be sent after Kumar puts in his papers.
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The government on Tuesday dismissed suggestions that it was trying to ‘bypass’ Parliament by seeking to resort to the ordinance route on anti-graft measures.
“There is no attempt to bypass Parliament. Normally the Bills should be passed in Parliament but what can the government do if the Opposition does not allow it to function for three consecutive sessions,” External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said.
New
Delhi, March 4