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Prez gives assent to ordinance to fight sexual crimes

[email protected] (Naeem Siddeeq)
February 4, 2013

prezNew Delhi, Feb 4: President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday gave his assent to an ordinance purported to give more teeth to the criminal laws to check crime against women, despite protests from several organisations.

Many women’s groups had contended that the ordinance bypassed all vital recommendations of the Justice J S Verma Committee, constituted to suggest changes to the criminal laws in the country, in the aftermath of the gang-rape of a 23-year-old student here on December 16.

Though the government said the ordinance would be open to review once it was placed before Parliament, the women’s groups have planned a protest at Jantar Mantar on Monday and a signature campaign. They are planning another protest on February 7, besides holding a “vigil” outside Parliament when it meets for the Budget Session on February 21.

The “Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance,” passed by the Union Cabinet on Friday, proposed capital punishment for violators in the rarest of rare cases, which was not in consonance with the Verma Committee recommendations.

“The President of India has accorded his assent to the Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance, 2013, today,” a Union Home Ministry release stated on Sunday. The ordinance comes into effect immediately. It will, however, lapse if Parliament fails to pass it within six months.

A section within the government was not in favour of bringing in an ordinance. They wanted the Parliamentary Committee on Home Affairs to go through the Verma Committee recommendations and analyse them along with the original criminal amendment bill.

The government went all guns blazing for the ordinance to speed up amendments and checkmate the Opposition, which is likely to launch an onslaught during the Budget Session.

The women’s organisations had held a press conference to denounce the government’s move, saying it was against the spirit of the Verma Committee report. Besides, the ordinance proposes to replace the word “rape” with “sexual assault,” which is another deviation from the Verma report.

Though the BJP has welcomed the government’s initiative in making changes to the criminal laws through an ordinance, the Left parties have expressed reservation

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News Network
February 21,2020

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 21: Hindu temples, dedicated to Lord Shiva, witnessed heavy rush on Friday as devotees celebrated Maha Shivratri festival with traditional zeal and religious fervour across Kerala.

Cutting across age barriers, devotees, including women and children, thronged small and big shrines since early morning to offer prayers and take part in special poojas and rituals on the occasion.

Devotees used to mark the auspicious occasion by observing 'orikkal' (fasting), dedicating the leaves of Koovalam plant, which is considered holy according to Hindu tradition, to the Lord and by abandoning their sleep chanting 'Om Nama Shivaya' mantras.

Ardent devotees even remain awake throughout the night and spend their whole day in temples.

The Sreekandeswaram Mahadeva Temple here, Vadakkunnathan temple in Thrissur and Maha Deva temple in Vaikom were among the major shrines which witnessed heavy rush since early morning.

Temple authorities, especially Devaswom Boards which manage many major shrines in the state, have made elaborate arrangements in Shiva temples to ensure smooth darshan for devotees.

All arrangements have been put in place on the banks of River Periyar in Aluva in Ernakulam for 'Balitharppanam', a ritual in which people pay obeisance to their ancestors.

Performing the ritual on the midnight of Shivratri is considered auspicious by devotees.

Hundreds of 'bali taras' (specially erected platforms) have been set up on the banks of the river to perform the ritual and a large number of priests have been deployed to assist devotees.

Thousands of police personnel were deployed in view of the large turnout of devotees.

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Agencies
August 4,2020

New Delhi, Aug 4: India witnessed a single-day spike of 52,050 COVID-19 cases as the total cases in the country reached 18,55,746, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Tuesday.

803 COVID-19 related deaths were reported in the last 24 hours. The total cases include 5,86,298 active cases, 12,30,510 cured/discharged/migrated and 38,938 deaths, the Health Ministry added.

Maharashtra continues to be the worst-affected state as it has a total of 1,47,324 active cases and 15,842 deaths. A total of 4,50,196 coronavirus cases have been recorded in the state up to Monday, according to Union Ministry of Health.

Tamil Nadu reported 5,609 new COVID-19 cases and 109 deaths on Monday, taking total cases to 2,63,222 including 2,02,283 discharges and 4,241 deaths, the state Health Department said.

The total cases in Delhi have risen to 1,38,482 including 1,24,254 recovered/discharged/migrated cases and 4,021 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

Meanwhile, India recorded the highest single-day testing by conducting over 6.6 lakh tests to diagnose COVID-19 in the last 24 hours.
"In its fight against COVID-19, India scales a new high of 6,61,715 tests in the last 24 hours," said the Health Ministry in a tweet.

A total of 2,08,64,206 samples for COVID-19 have been tested across the country so far, said the Health Ministry.

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Agencies
August 3,2020

New Delhi, Aug 3: Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani on Monday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the timely supply of food and medical assistance to meet the requirement in Afghanistan.

During their telephonic conversation, PM Modi also reiterated India's commitment to the people of Afghanistan in their quest for a peaceful, prosperous and inclusive Afghanistan, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement on Monday.

The two leaders also exchanged views on the evolving security situation in the region and other areas of mutual bilateral interest.
Both leaders also exchanged greetings on Eid-Al-Adha. 

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