The Tribune – Change mindset, treat women with respect, says President

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 11. The overhang of the brutal Delhi gang rape was felt at the Governors’ Conference here today with President Pranab
Mukherjee underscoring the need to bring a change in the mindset of the society so that women are treated with dignity and respect.

A fortnight after he emphasised on the need to reset its moral compass, the President utilised the opportunity to recall that the meeting was taking place in the shadow of the unfortunate incident which had shaken the collective conscience of the country.

Urging the Governors to work towards improving the security and welfare of women, he said there was “pressing need to bring about a change in the mindset of the society so that women are treated with dignity and respect.”

While noting that there was an improvement in the internal security last year, Mukherjee advised the border states to keep an extra vigil and suggested that programmes relating to infrastructure development in areas close to the borders be expedited to meet the emerging challenges.

Over the past few years, the Centre has undertaken programmes to develop roads in the areas near the Sino-Indian and the India-Pakistan border, especially in the North and Northeastern regions of the country, building and reactivating airbases in the forward locations.

Turning to other aspects of governance, the President reminded the Governors that the delivery systems of the Government should be strengthened, pointing out that states which worked in this area progressed faster as compared to others.

Stating that there is a direct relationship between water, sanitation and health, Mukherjee asked the Governors to pay special attention to Nirmal Bharat Abhiyaan of the Centre to improve the quality of life of those residing in the rural areas.

He also asked the Governors to constitute State Finance Commission equipped with staff and submission of report since the Centre has already formed the 14th Finance Commission this January.

The conference will be addressed by the Vice President, the Prime Ministers and Union Ministers tomorrow.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130212/main4.htm

The Hindu – Godman’s unholy sermon on rape sparks outrage

Mahim Pratap Singh, Bindu Shajan Perappadan

Jaipur/New Delhi, 8 January 2013.  Despite the continuing national outrage over the brutal gang rape of the 23-year-old student in Delhi, a small minority on the fringe has said, in a case of blaming the victim, that women are also responsible for the sexual crimes against them.

The latest to join their ranks is self-styled spiritual leader Asaram Bapu with his suggestion that the gang-rape victim should have prayed to god and begged with her attackers to let her go. Infuriated over the comments, social and women activists called for legal action and social boycott of Bapu. His comments, however, sparked quick criticism from several women’s organisations and religious leaders.

On Monday, speaking at an event in Tonk, about 90 km from the capital of Rajasthan, Bapu was quoted saying that the woman would not have suffered the fate had she taken `Guru Diksha’ and chanted the Saraswati Mantra.

A recording of the discourse on his official website had him saying: “Those who were at fault were drunk. Had she taken guru diksha and chanted the saraswati mantra, she would not have boarded any random bus after watching a movie with her boyfriend. Even if she did, she should have taken god’s name and asked for mercy. She should have called them brothers, fallen at their feet and pleaded for mercy.

Had she said, I am a weak woman, you are my brothers”, such brutality would not have happened (Agar us kanya ne saraswati mantra liya hota, … toh boy friend ke saath picture dekh kar jis kisi bas mein ghusti nahin. Agar ghus bhi gayi.. toh 6 sharabi the.. Bhagwan ka naam leti aur ek ka haath pakadti “Tere ko toh mai maanti hoon. Galti ek taraf se nahi hoti).

While leaders of women’s organisations such as CPM’s Brinda Karat condemned the remarks with Ms. Karat calling them “bizarre and insensitive”, some religious leaders were also critical of Asaram Bapu.

Religious leaders upset, Karnataka Bureau reports

The strongest response came from Channamalla Veerabhadra Swamiji of Nidumamidi Math in Karnataka who described it as “the height of ignorance and idiocy.” He said: “The Delhi incident shows male cruelty and arrogance at its worst.

Is there any point in the victim pleading for mercy?”

The seer said that while statements of Bapu could be ignored as “too absurd,” more dangerous were those from RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat who “has greater faith in Manuvada rather than Manavatavada [humanism].”

Vishwesha Tirtha Swamiji of Pejawar Math in Udupi on Monday said: “It is not right to compare or see both the victim and the rapists in equal terms. Can the robber and the robbed be ever seen equally? Here the matter is even more serious.”

Speaking to The Hindu, he said Bapu’s statement that the victim should have begged before the rapists and called them “brothers” was “illogical.” “When someone is about to be raped, the woman only thinks of her defence.

Besides, what is the guarantee that the rapists would have left her even if she had requested them?” he asked.

In an email response to The Hindu, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of The Art of Living, said: “I do not agree with this [Asaram Bapu’s statements]. These hypotheses do not lead us anywhere. In fact, no sense or reason prevails when someone is drunk.”

In Coimbatore, Dayananda Saraswati of Arsha Vidya Gurukulam and Jaggi Vasudev of Isha Foundation refused to comment on the issue.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/godmans-unholy-sermon-on-rape-sparks-outrage/article4283965.ece

The Hindu – Commission to suggest steps to make Delhi safe for women

Aarti Dhar

New Delhi, 26 December 2012. Under immense pressure to take concrete measures to ensure safety of women in the wake of the gang-rape of a 23-year-old woman in Delhi that led to large-scale protests, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday set up a Commission of Inquiry to identify lapses and fix responsibility for the incident.

The Commission, to be headed by the former Delhi High Court judge, Justice Usha Mehra, will also suggest measures to make Delhi and the National Capital Region safer for women. It has been asked to submit a report within three months, which will be tabled in Parliament with action taken by the government.

Amid this development, the Centre ruled out giving control of the city police to the Delhi government for now, saying the responsibility of law and order in the capital should remain with the Union government. “This is not the time to debate positions. Let us restore normalcy in Delhi. These issues can be flagged for debate,” Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.

On allegations by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit that police officers had interfered in the recording of statement of the victim, Mr. Chidambaram said the Home Minister had told the Cabinet that an internal probe by a senior officer was ordered into it.

He, however, refused to comment on the confrontation between Ms. Dikshit and Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar over developments surrounding the recording of the statement.

The Justice Mehra Commission will be in addition to a three-member panel headed by the former Chief Justice of India, J.S. Verma. The committee will suggest changes in law to provide for quicker trial and stringent punishment in “aggravated sexual assault” cases amid demands for death penalty.

During the Cabinet meeting, which was chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, several Ministers were reported to have said the government should ensure the recovery of the victim and instil a sense of safety among women.

Mr. Chidambaram said the government was working on ensuring punishment for the guilty, finding out what went wrong and amending laws dealing with crimes against women to provide for more stern penalty and faster trials. It was a matter of shame that the incident happened in Delhi and that the Central government had special responsibility.

He admitted that the developments of the last one week showed a “new phenomenon” of “flash mobs” resorting to protests and that the government was not fully prepared to deal with such situations.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/commission-to-suggest-steps-to-make-delhi-safe-for-women/article4241274.ece

The Hindu – Media protests student’s gang rape

Staff Reporter

New Delhi, 25 December 2012. Speaking out against the use of force against journalists covering protests against the gang rape of a physiotherapy student, five press organisations on Monday urged Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde to take measures to protect mediapersons, as well as women.

The memorandum, signed by presidents and general secretaries of the Press Club of India, Indian Women’s Press Corps, Press Association, Indian Journalists Union and Delhi Union of Journalists, demanded action and accountability from the police officers who gave orders for the use of force against the mediapersons who were carrying out their functions on Sunday.

Before sending the memorandum to the Union Home Minister, journalists from different media organisations gathered at the Press Club of India here. Holding placards, they marched till Rail Bhavan, where the police had put up barricades.

Describing the assault on the media persons as totally unacceptable and condemnable, the memorandum said: “We view this action as a strategy to control the media and prevent them from covering the protests. This also constitutes curbing freedom of expression guaranteed under the Constitution.”

Delhi has become an extremely unsafe place for women at all times of the day, particularly during evening hours, where safe forms of public transport have become non-existent, the memorandum added.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/media-protests-students-gang-rape/article4236014.ece

The Hindu – Prohibitory orders clamped, protesters defy police

In a surprise move, Congress president Sonia Gandhi had came out of her residence and met protesters on Saturday night. According to a protester, Ms. Gandhi told them “I am with you. I can’t tell when the justice will be delivered, but surely it will be. We will do something.”

New Delhi, 23 December 2012. Hours after police evacuated demonstrators from Raisina Hills and Sonia Gandhi’s residence, high drama was witnessed at India Gate on Sunday when agitators resisted police attempts to detain them for defying prohibitory orders to protest against the gangrape of a young girl.

The protesters assembled near the war memorial from 9 am when they were asked to vacate the location by the police which said the area was under Section 144 of CrPC which bans the assembly of four or more persons.

As the protesters remained defiant, police forcibly removed them from the spot.

Some of the protesters tried to get out of the police van but were pushed back into the vehicle. Later, the protesters also punctured the tyres of the bus which was carrying them while a group of girls lay down infront of it.

Women protesters alleged that they were manhandled by male police personnel though women police were present at the spot.

“We are here to protest a heinous crime. We have the right to protest,” said Pushpa, a Nepali national, who is pursuing studies here.

Earlier in the morning, the police evacuated a number of protesters from area of Raisina Hills, where Rashtrapati Bhavan and key government offices are located, and outside Congress chief Sonia Gandhi’s 10, Janpath residence where they had stayed put since last night to protest against the gang-rape of the 23-year-old girl on Sunday last.

The protesters, most of them students, who spent a chilly night in the open after they fought pitched battles with the police throughout the day yesterday at Raisina Hills, were taken into a bus in an early morning operation. Outside Ms. Gandhi’s residence also, protesters were taken into custody.

A large number of police men were deployed and Raisina Hills and Rajpath were barricaded. Eight Metro stations near India Gate and Raisina Hills were closed as part of police preparations to contain the agitation.

The police clamped prohibitory orders in New Delhi district and asked protesters to stage demonstrations either at Jantar Mantar or Ramlila Maidan.

A Delhi Police statement said, “Protestors may go to Ramlila Maidan or Jantar Mantar. Traffic has been diverted from Vijay Chowk and Rajpath.”

It said prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC have been issued in New Delhi area except Jantar Mantar.

Metro Stations closed

Anticipating more protests on the gang-rape issue, eight Delhi Metro stations near Raisina Hill and India Gate were also closed for public.

Last night, it was decided to close four stations – Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Udyog Bhawan and Race Course – but this morning it was extended to four more – Barakhamba Road, Mandi House, Khan Market and Pragati Maidan.

Though the commuters were less in the morning it being Sunday, the few who chose to take the Metro to reach these destinations were put to hardship as they unaware of the announcement made late last night by DMRC.

Delhi Metro’s decision came on the directions of the Delhi Police. The stations will remain closed till further orders.

“The stations will remain closed till DMRC gets further orders from the Delhi Police. All the four stations are close to India Gate. However, interchange will be allowed at Central Secretariat station,” DMRC officials said.

The police move came a day after thousands of youths clashed with the police at Raisina Hills protesting against the gang—rape and demanding speedy punishment to the accused. (PTI)

http://www.thehindu.com/news/prohibitory-orders-clamped-protesters-defy-police/article4231465.ece?homepage=true

The Tribune – Women breach security of Rashtrapati Bhawan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 21. Only some lucky few in the country can claim of never having faced any sort of abuse — physical, verbal or emotional — ever in their lives, a fact which was evident from the way ordinary women today took to the streets, venting their anger against the inhuman Delhi gang rape that has shaken the nation.

The National Capital erupted with a series of protests against how India, especially its law enforcement agencies, treat women suffering at the hands of uncouth men with a protester also managing to breach the security of the most well-protected place in the Capital: the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Swati, a young student, broke through the gates and entered the complex where President Pranab Mukherjee resides. “Why do we need any permission to speak to our own President? Does anyone ask the women for permission before raping them and harassing them? We are here to make our concerns heard, and for that we do not need any permission,” Swati said, after she was escorted outside by security personnel.

As women activists and students determinedly marched toward Mukherjee’s Raisina Hills’ residence, stormed the gates and tried to break through, the extent of their anger was evident. With no women constables to stop them, activists managed to break through the barricades and run towards the South and North Blocks and reach the gates. The protesters later marched toward India Gate, where they were joined by men, housewives and children in a candle light vigil, later in the evening.

If the march, which took place under the aegis of the Jawahar Lal Nehru University Student Union, the All-India Democratic Women’s Organisation, the National Federation of Indian Women and the Young Women’s Christian Association and events that followed is any indication it is quite evident that protests by women are acquiring a new purpose.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121222/nation.htm#9

The Tribune – Delhi Gangrape; Fifth accused detained in Bihar

Three accused produced in court – PM terms incident very disturbing – High Court HC steps in

Tribune News Service & PTI

New Delhi, December 19. The police has detained one more person in the Delhi gang rape case. Akshay Thakur, one of the bus cleaners, was
detained in Aurangabad in Bihar and is being brought to Delhi. Another cleaner Raju is still at large.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh described the assault against the girl in a moving bus here on Sunday night as “very upsetting”.

The 23-year-old girl, who was also tortured, underwent a fifth surgery and “continues to be critical but stable”, doctors attending on her at Safdarjung hospital said.

Taking suo motu cognisance of the dastardly crime, the Delhi High Court decided to monitor its investigation by directing police to carry a “high standard” probe and file the chargesheet only after the court’s perusal. “Nobody is safe,” the court said, as it pulled up the police, noting such incidents repeatedly happen in the city.

While the bus driver and main accused, Ram Singh, was yesterday sent to five-day police custody, the police produced Vinay Sharma, Pawan Gupta alias Kaloo and Ram’s brother, Mukesh in a local court today. Metropolitan Magistrate (MM) Namrita Aggarwal remanded Pawan, a fruit-seller, and Vinay, an assistant gym instructor in police custody for four days. Mukesh, who was allegedly driving the bus when the girl was being gang-raped, was sent to to 14-day judicial custody.

Before Aggarwal remanded Mukesh, Pawan and Vinay in different custodies, she sent them to Metropolitan Magistrate Sandeep Garg, who asked them if they wanted to be a part of a Test Identification Parade. Pawan and Vinay, however, refused to undergo the test, but Mukesh agreed to undergo the TIP tomorrow.

Doctors remove victim’s intestines

The victim underwent a fifth surgery and “continues to be critical but stable”, doctors attending on her at Safdarjung hospital said. Doctors performed an elective abdominal surgery to remove her gangrenous small intestine. They said she has lost most of her intestine and remains on “ventilatory support”.

Hang me, says one accused

Pawan Gupta, a fruit-seller and one of the six accused in the case, reportedly told the judge: “We did a horrible thing.” Another accused Vinay, an assistant gym instructor, told the magistrate: “Hang me till death. I beat up the boy, but I didn’t hit the girl.” The sixth accused, Raju, is still at large and police are looking for him in UP.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121220/main1.htm