Lalu Prasad Yadav favours death sentence for rapists

PATNA: Joining the growing clamour to award death penalty to perpetrators of rape, RJD President Lalu Prasad Yadav on Monday said his party would advocate for capital punishment for rapists in the Delhi gang rape case in the next Parliament session.

"Minor punishment of seven years jail term will not be adequate for such an act ... Existing laws need to be amended to end the menace," Yadav said before setting out for his 'Parivartan yatra' against the alleged 'misrule' of the Nitish Kumar government.

Lalu said RJD would advocate for awarding death sentence to rapists when the issue of gang rape of the 23-year-old para-medic in a moving bus in New Delhi comes up for discussion in Parliament.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has four members in Lok Sabha, including Prasad and two in Rajya Sabha.

He said the public outrage over the Delhi gangrape was justified as the victim was brutally assaulted and is battling for life.

In view of growing incidents of rape in Bihar and Karnataka, Yadav said stringent anti-rape laws were needed to prevent such barbaric crimes.

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Sexual assault: Justice Verma committee begins work; seeks public comments

NEW DELHI: The three-member committee of jurists, constituted to give recommendations on amending laws to provide speedier justice and enhanced punishment in sexual assault cases, began its work on Monday by issuing notice seeking public comments on the issue by January 5.

The committee headed by former Chief Justice of India JS Verma sought comments from the public in general, particularly eminent jurists, legal professionals, NGOs, women's groups and civil society members on reviewing the existing laws in a bid to provide quicker justice and stringent punishment in cases of aggravated sexual assault, an official statement said.

The comments can be sent at email ID - justice.verma@nic.in or through FAX at 011-23092675.

The committee, which was constituted after public protests erupted over the Delhi gang rape case, will look into possible amendments to the criminal law for faster trial and proper punishment for criminals accused of committing sexual assault of extreme nature against women.

The other members of the committee, constituted by the government, are Justice (retd) Leila Seth, former Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh high court, and Gopal Subramanian, former Solicitor General of India. The panel has been given 30 days to give its report to the government.

Under the existing law, the maximum punishment for rape is a life term but the nation-wide outrage over the gang rape of the 23-year-old physiotherapy student in a moving bus last Sunday night has sparked a demand for death penalty for rape convicts.

BJP has also favoured death for perpetrators of such crimes and demanded a special session of Parliament for amending the laws.

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Karnataka HC grants advance bail to B S Yeddyurappa and his son

BANGALORE: Former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, who recently broke his 40-year-old association with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by forming his own Karnataka Janata party (KJP), has something to cheer for.

The Karnataka high court has granted anticipatory bail to Yeddyurappa and his son B Y Raghavendra, a member of parliament from the Shimoga constituency (who continues to remain with BJP) in relation to a private complaint lodged before the special Lokayukta court in Bangalore.

Allowing the criminal petitions filed by the former chief minister and his son, Justice K N Keshavanarayana has directed them to execute a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh. They have also been told not to terrorize the witnesses in any manner and also appear before the special court.

"Having regard to the contentions urged, I am of the considered opinion that there are no reasonable grounds to believe that the petitioners are guilty of any of the offences alleged. Therefore, the petitioners are entitled for the relief of anticipatory bail" the judge has observed in his order.

B Vinod, an advocate, had filed the private complaint against Yeddyurppa and his son.

He had alleged that the forest land meant for the Bhadra Tiger reserve in Shimoga was illegally denotified by the Yeddyurappa government and some portion was encroached upon. The complaint was registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act, Land Reforms Act and Forest Act.

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Railways running on temporary basis after my departure: Lalu Prasad

ARWAL (BIHAR): Patting his own back, former railway minister Lalu Prasad on Monday claimed that since his departure, the ministry has been running on a temporary basis and asserted he would complete the unfinished projects of his time if he became minister again.

"Since the day I left Railway ministry it is running on temporary basis," Prasad told a RJD rally here.

Prasad alleged that work of the railway stations, halts and other projects of which he had laid the foundation as the Railway minister had come to nought.

"You voted RJD out of power by ensuring victory of only four MPs. By doing so you brought the wheel of development in the Railways in particular to a halt," he said.

Prasad claimed that due to his commendable work in the Railways he attracted praise not only from within the country, but also from abroad.

He referred to a MQM senator in Pakistan recently pointing to the poor condition of railways in his country and suggesting that Prasad be invited to improve it.

Prasad, who used to claim himself as the 'Prime Minister of Railways' during his tenure in UPA I, spoke about the projects he took up during his tenure in the railway ministry and underlined that he did not allow passenger fares to be increased.

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31 per cent MLAs in Gujarat assembly have criminal records

AHMEDABAD: Around 31 per cent MLAs in the newly-formed 13th Gujarat assembly have criminal antecedents with Congress dominating the list as far as overall percentage is concerned, whereas the ruling BJP hogging the tainted 'top ten' who have serious charges, including rape, against them.

"Out of 182 candidates who got elected in the Gujarat assembly, 57 MLAs or 31 per cent have declared criminal cases against them, which is a 5 per cent increase compared to 47 MLAs or 26 per cent in 2007 Assembly elections," said Dr Jagdeep Chhokar of Gujarat Election Watch (GEW) here in a press conference on Monday.

GEW is launched by the Association for Democratic Rights (ADR) set up by the professors of Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad (IIM-A).

Among legislators who had filed affidavits with the Election Commission declaring serious criminal cases against them included Jetha Bharwad (Ahir) of BJP who has been charged with rape among other charges including attempt to murder.

Bharwad, who got elected from Shehara constituency in Panchmahal district, had recently been charged with attempted murder when he got involved in a firing incident on the day of second phase of polling on December 17 in Tarsang village.

According to GEW, out of 57 MLAs who have declared criminal cases against them, 24 legislators have "very serious" charges against them.

"We are appealing to the ruling party in Gujarat that an MLA having criminal cases against him should not be made minister", said Dr Chhokar.

As per the report, among major political parties', Congress tops the chart with 20 out of its total 61 MLAs who got elected have criminal cases against them.

Ruling BJP, which contested all 182 seats, has total 115 MLAs in new Assembly, out of which 28 per cent, that is 32 MLAs, have criminal cases.

According to Election Watch, those figure prominently among top 10 MLAs facing serious criminal charges six belonged to BJP, including Amit Shah, Shankar Chaudhary, Babulal Jamnadas Patel, Purshottam Solanki, Jetha Bharwad and Dilip Patel.

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Government waging 'war' against people, Kejriwal says

NEW DELHI: With curfew imposed in the heart of Delhi to stop protests near the presidential palace, Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal accused the government of waging 'war' against the people.

With prohibitory orders imposed in parts of the city following unending protests to ensure justice to the 23-year-old woman, Kejriwal told reporters,"This is illegitimate. How can they impose Section 144?"

"If the government would have shown such resolve to deal with rapists, the situation would have been different. It seems the government is waging 'war' against its own people."

Prohibitory orders banning the assembly of five or more people have been imposed around Parliament and Rashtrapati Bhawan including India Gate area, Rajpath and Janpath.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi's residence on Janpath also saw protests over last few days.

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Delhi gang rape case: Ramdev, ex-army chief VK Singh lead protest at Jantar Mantar

NEW DELHI: Protesters led by yoga guru Ramdev and former Army chief V K Singh on Sunday clashed with police at Jantar Mantar here this afternoon when they were prevented from marching towards India Gate, the epicentre of protests against gangrape of a young girl last Sunday.

After a brief speech at Jantar Mantar, Ramdev along with Singh and others started marching towards India Gate but they were stopped by police.

As soon as Ramdev and Singh got down from the dais, police cordoned off the area and the protesters sat at the spot.

However, supporters started marching towards India Gate and tried to break the barricades following which police resorted to use of force. Two persons suffered injuries in the incident.

"Government should set up fast track courts and punish all the rapists. We want death penalty for all the accused," Ramdev said.

At Safdurjung Hospital, where the gang rape victim is battling for life, BJP staged a protest demanding justice for her.

Dr B K Athani, Medical Superintendent of Safdurjung Hospital, appealed to protesters not to stage demonstrations near the hospital.

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Delhi gang rape case draws attention of American media

WASHINGTON: The large-scale protests in India over the gang-rape of a girl in a moving bus has attracted the attention of American media which blamed it on poor law and order and a lacklustre criminal justice system.

At a time when the mainstream American media itself is battling over the issue of fiscal cliff, debating the relevance of gun-control laws in the aftermath of shootout inside a school that killed 20 children, newspapers and news channels have been taking a serious note of outburst of the peoples' anger against the rape on the young girl who is battling for her life at a hospital in New Delhi.

"These are unprecedented demonstrations," National Public Radio reported.

"They want justice for this young woman, and they want women in this country generally to feel safer on the streets, at work, in subways, and on public transportation," it said.

"Clashes Break Out in India at a Protest Over a Rape Case," headlined The New York Times, stating that thousands of protesters streamed into the heart of New Delhi to demand justice and better policing in the wake of the brutal rape.

"The roots of the problem run deep in a conservative society that is having trouble adjusting to educational and economic advances by women, long confined to the home. Demographics also play a role, with half of India's population under 25 and female infanticide and the neglect of girls creating a growing gender imbalance," the daily said.

"But India's criminal justice system, riddled with incompetence, corruption and political meddling, seems unable to respond effectively," The New York Times said.

"A young woman was gang-raped and beaten to near death on a moving bus in New Delhi, police say. She is in intensive care at a city hospital, battling for her life," CNN reported.

Official data show that rape cases have jumped almost 875 per cent over the past 40 years -- from 2,487 in 1971 to 24,206 in 2011, it said.

New Delhi police fired water cannon at protesters, it said in another news report.

"Thousands of people demonstrated outside the Indian president's residence in New Delhi on Saturday, breaching barricades and clashing with police over the brutal rape of a 23-year-old girl before authorities drove them back with sticks, tear gas and water cannons," The Los Angeles Times reported.

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Film actress molestation case: Journalist killed in police firing during bandh in Manipur

IMPHAL: A journalist was killed in police firing on the second day of the indefinite strike in Manipur called by a film body demanding the arrest of a Naga militant for allegedly molesting a film actress.

Nanao Singh (29) was killed this afternoon when the police opened fire at Thangmeiband area near here in Imphal West district at supporters of the general strike who torched a police vehicle and obstructed the plying of public and security vehicles, official sources said.

Singh, a reporter of the newspaper 'Prime News' was hit by a bullet on his chest. He succumbed to his injury at a hospital here.

As the news of the death spread, violence took place in different parts of Manipur valley areas, particularly in Imphal East and Imphal West districts, official reports from the districts said.

The bandh supporters, who have been demanding the arrest of NSCN(IM) militant Livingstone Anal for allegedly molesting Manipuri film actress Momoko in public view during a musical concert in Chandel district on December 18, stepped up their blockade of all major roads and brickbatted the police when they tried to remove them.

They damaged and set afire at least four public vehicles who defied the general strike at Shingjamei, Sagolband and some other areas despite the large deployment of police forces.

State home minister Gaikhangam visited the hospital and condoled the death of Nanao Singh. He also appealed to the agitators to remain calm and cooperate with the authorities to restore the situation.

Hundreds of journalists gathered at the Regional Institute of Medical Science and Hospital where Singh died. The body was later taken to the Manipur press club.

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Delhi gang rape protest: Constable critically injured in clashes at India Gate

NEW DELHI: A constable is battling for life in a government hospital after he was critically injured in violence at India Gate where people were protesting the gang rape of a young girl in a moving bus here.

"Constable Subhash Tomar is fighting for his life," Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar said .

Protesters and police were clashing continuously at India Gate during the day. Doctors said the constable has suffered critical injuries.

Several other policemen were also injured in the incident.

Around 100 protesters, including media personnel, were also injured in violence.

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