Disgusted at the rape incident! --KJO - Page 22

NEW DELHI: Facing criticism for mishandling the public anger over the gang-rape in the Capital, home minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Monday appeared to have complicated matters for himself and the government by insisting that he was not obligated to walk up to protesters at India Gate, be it political activists or the Maoists.

In an interview with a TV channel, Shinde appeared to be upset with the protests despite a midnight meeting with no less than Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

Significantly, unlike Delhi lieutenant governor Tejinder Khanna, he did not rule out the possibility of Delhi Police commissioner Neeraj Kumar being removed, and instead suggested that the issue would remain open until the government had calmly reviewed all aspects.

"I don't want to comment on commissioner of police. I would not spare anyone and look into the role of those responsible," the home ministersaid just hours after he was learnt to have fended off Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit's demand to shift Kumar.

While emphasizing that he had met the activists both at home and his office, the minister said, "It is very easy to say that home minister should go to India Gate and talk. Tomorrow, if any other parties engage in demonstration, why shouldn't the home minister go there, why only with this? You answer me, tomorrow if Congress party people will demonstrate or tomorrow BJP will demonstrate. Tomorrow, Maoists will come here and demonstrate, why should the home minister go there?"

Asked whether it was right to compare the protesters with Maoists, he said, "You don't separate law and order. I had already, right from day one, met them in my house, I met them in my office and I met their representatives. They should have been satisfied, but after chanting 'we want justice, we want justice', what kind of justice are you expecting? Either you only give justice. There are some limits. We accepted all the demands."

He emphasized that the Congress chief had agreed to meet them at midnight. "A person like Sonia Gandhi met the delegation of the students at midnight. They should have responded to that. Why did they take the law into their hands the very next day," he said.

Pressed further as why Sonia, PM Manmohan Singh or Rahul Gandhi couldn't come and meet these protestors, Shinde said, "I told you that if we come once, they will expect us to come every time."

Although quite clearly a part of the political outreach, Shinde's remarks may not help ease Congress's worry that the government could have dealt with the situation better. Though he merely restated the position that governments have followed over the years, his choice of words runs the risk of reinforcing the perception of an arrogant government which was increasingly removed from the public sentiment.

The home minister, however, maintained that certain "political elements" were behind Sunday's violence at India Gate and its surrounding areas during the protests against the gang-rape. Defending the crackdown on protestors, Shinde said on Saturday, the protestors went up to North Block and even tried to break into Rashtrapati Bhavan.

"Rashtrapati Bhavan is a prestigious house of the country and it is the image of the country. If they would have gone there, you would have criticized me. That is why we are very strict on this thing," he said, adding that hooliganism also led to the police action.

On the continuation of the Delhi police chief, he said, "Once the situation is calm and quiet, I will look into it. Certainly, I will take action and I will not spare anyone (found to be guilty)," he said.

He said the Centre was convening a meeting of chief secretaries and directors general of police of all states on January 4 to take stock of crimes against women, particularly rape.

NEW DELHI: Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde's appalling indifference to the growing public outrage over the gang-rape of a young woman was on display once again on Monday when he said that it was not practical to expect the government or its leaders to engage with the protestors.

"If we meet students today, we may have to meet Maoists tomorrow. I cannot go and meet them. We cannot set a precedent. Tomorrow, if 100 adivasis are killed in Chhattisgarh or Gadchiroli, can the government go there? It is because this is Delhi you want us to go there," Shinde told a private TV channel.

Shinde justified police action against protestors, who comprised students and women, and said that some hooligans and goondas had entered the crowd. "Hooligans and goondas had joined the protesters and were damaging public property and pelting stones, after which the police took action," he said.

The home minister came close to suggesting that the angry crowd that congregated at the India Gate should have called off their protests after his leader, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, met a group of seven protestors. "Soniaji had met some of the protesters on Saturday night and also assured of action. Then why such incidents occurred the next day," Shinde asked.

Shinde said the government was committed to speedy action to tackle crime against women. "I have called a meeting with all state DGPs and state chief secretaries on January 4 to get details of rape incidents across the country and what action is needed to curb them," Shinde said.

The home minister rejected the demand for special session of Parliament, saying that he has given one month time and will ensure action within the time-frame. BJP leader and leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj had demanded a special session on the issue.

When asked what his opinion on public anger over huge security being provided to VIPs and the common man feeling insecure on the roads of Delhi, Shinde said he will look into the issue. "I have collected suggestions and will work on it."

The home minister's statement comparing Delhi protestors with armed Maoists incensed not only the agitators but also the opposition parties. "This only shows that the home minister lacks sensitivity to deal with the problem. He cannot see the rising anger on the streets of Delhi," said BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar. CPM leader Brinda Karat said she was distressed by Shinde's statement. "It is difficult to understand this home minister," Karat said.

Hubli: Opposing the horrendous gang rape of a young girl in Delhi last week, students from various colleges and members of women associations staged protest rallies across the city on Monday.
Hundreds of students and women took out a rally from Indira Glass House to tahshildar office through the main roads like Channamma Circle urging the authorities to hang the culprits involved in the gang rape.
They vented their anger by shouting slogans condemning the incident and demandedimmediate action against the culprits.
Students from Mahila Vidya Peetha, Kasturba Balikashram, Women's PU College and other colleges, and women from Pragati Mahila Mandal, Suvarna Ladies Club, Nagamma Tayi Mahila Mandal, Kamakshi

Mahila Mandal, Hasya Pariwar and other women's organizations and the public supported the rally and condemned the Delhi incident.
The protesters submitted a memorandum to Hubli tahshildar.

The condition of the Dec 16 gangrape victim has worsened due to internal bleeding but her vital parameters remain stable, doctors said on Monday.

"Her condition is bad and serious compared to yesterday (Sunday) due to internal bleeding," PK Verma, ICU in-charge at the Safdarjung Hospital, told reporters.

Verma said the good part is that despite internal bleeding, her white blood cell count and platelet count remain stable.

"She continues to be critical but her kidneys are making urine and lungs are fine. She is conscious and communicating," he said.

Verma said that internal bleeding was due to infection and fresh blood plasma was injected.

"Her condition has deteriorated ... She is very serious, very critical and still not out of danger," added one of the doctors attending to her at the hospital.

BD Athani, medical superintendent of Safdarjung Hospital, said the victim Sunday night developed tendency for internal bleeding and now has reduced capacity for coagulation.

"Her bilirubin level has decreased to 5.5 and her lycolyte count is 6,000. These parameters are after supplementation of platelets. She continues to remain on ventilator. She is not as good as yesterday and she is para sick. She is running fever of 102 to 104," he said.

"This is because of sepsis and it is a matter of serious concern," he said.

"The victim was subjected to psychiatric counselling on Monday. Her parents were also given counselling. In that, it was found that the victim was relatively composed and that she neither showed anxiety or depression," Athani added.

She was also administered another four bottles of platelet-rich plasma.

Doctors said the bleeding was because of sepsis, a severe blood infection that can lead to organ failure, which still remain a cause of "major concern" as far as the girl's health is concerned.

Athani said they have not made an effort to put the girl off ventilator because of her condition and noted that she was running fever of 102 degrees to 104 degrees.

The girl was subjected to psychiatric counselling this morning along with her parents. Dr Rastogi of the psychology department said despite her fragile body condition, the girl is "relatively composed".

"She has not shown any anxiety or depression," he said.

PK Verma, ICU in-charge at the Safdarjung Hospital, said she is "very serious, very critical" and still "not out of danger".

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Boys not behaving? This helpline helps

Dec 26, 2012, 06.25AM IST TNN[ Sayantanee Choudhury ]

thanks...after being upset all day, I found a reason to smile thanks to this news item. Am praying and hoping for a day when immediate action to curtail lady harassment can become a norm.