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
July 1,2020

Mumbai, Jul 1: Mumbai police on Wednesday imposed section 144 of CrPC prohibiting the movement of people in public places and gatherings, to prevent the spread of Covid-19, an official said.

The prohibitory order, issued by a senior police official, says restrictions on the movement of residents for non- essential work will remain in force till July 15.

The order prohibits "presence or movement of one or more persons in public places or gathering of any sort", the official said.

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Agencies
July 20,2020

New Delhi, Jul 20: Reiterating that China has still occupied India's territory, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that he has fabricated a fake strongman image to come to power which has now become India's biggest weakness as he has to protect the idea of 'Chhapan Inch'.

Taking to Twitter, the Congress leader posted a video message and wrote, "PM fabricated a fake strongman image to come to power. It was his biggest strength. It is now India's biggest weakness."

In the video message, speaking on "China's Strategic Game Plan" the Congress leader said: "What is China's strategic and tactical game plan? It is simply not a border issue. The worry I have is that the Chinese are sitting in our territory today. Chinese don't do anything without thinking about it strategically."

"In their mind, they have mapped out the world and they are trying to shape the world. That's the scale of what they are doing. That's what Gwadar is, that is what belt and road is. It is a restructuring of the planet. So when you are thinking about the Chinese you have to understand that that is the level at which they are thinking," he added.

Now at the tactical level, they're trying to improve their position. Whether it is Galwan, whether it's Demchok or whether it is Pangong Lake. The idea is to position themselves, he said.

"They are disturbed by our highway they want to make our highway redundant and if they are thinking larger scale, they want to do something with Pakistan in Kashmir. So it is not simply a border issue. It is a border issue designed to put pressure on the Prime Minister of India," the Congress leader said.

"And they are thinking of putting pressure in a very particular way. And what they are doing, is that they are attacking his image. They understand that it in order for Mr Narendra Modi to be an effective politician; in order for Mr Narendra Modi to survive as a politician, he has to protect the idea of--Chhapan Inch. And this the real idea the Chinese are attacking. They are basically telling Mr Narendra Modi that if you do not do what we say, we will destroy the idea of Mr Narendra Modi as a strong leader," he added.

Gandhi continued saying, now the question is, how will PM Narendra Modi react. Will he take them on? Will he take on the challenge and say absolutely not, I'm the Prime Minister of India. I do not care about my image I'm going to take you on. Or will he succumb to them?

"The worry I have so far is that the Prime Minister has succumbed. The worry I have is, the Chinese are sitting in our territory today and the Prime Minister has said publicly they are not, which to me tells me that is worried about his image and defending his image," said Gandhi.

"And if he allows the Chinese to understand that they can manipulate him because of his image, the Indian Prime Minister will no longer be worth anything for India," he added.

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Agencies
January 4,2020

Kota, Jan 4: Following the death of an infant in the morning, the death toll in JK Lon Hospital here has risen to 107, officials said on Saturday.

A three-member state government committee of doctors, who was sent to investigate the matter on December 23 and 24, found that Kota's JK Lone Hospital is short of beds and it requires improvement.

However, the committee gave a clean chit to the doctors for any lapses over the recent death of infants admitted there.

A Central government team reached the hospital on Saturday to take stock of the situation.

As per the government report, at least 91 infants lost their lives at the government hospital in December last year.

Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to Chief Secretary of Rajasthan to submit a detailed report within 4 weeks about the steps being taken to address the issue.

The Commission also asked the Chief Secretary to ensure that such deaths of the children do not recur in future due to lack of infrastructure and health facilities at the hospitals.

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