Delhi polls: Women candidates promise the moon on security

New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS) With women's security being such a big issue in the capital, women candidates in the Feb 7 Delhi assembly polls are promising the moon as far as women's security is concerned. CCTV cameras and marshals in public transport, gender sensitization training for men and even random calls to drivers of cabs with female passengers to check on their safety are just some of the promises they are making to woo the voters.



 The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has pinned its chief ministerial candidate, former IPS officer Kiran Bedi, as the best bet for improving security for women in the capital.

 The national capital, which has the unflattering reputation of having one of the worst track records as far as women's security is concerned and is dubbed as the "rape capital", has only 19 women candidates - out of 673 - for the elections.

 Despite being more than vocal about women related issues, the three major parties - the BJP, AAP and Congress - have fielded only eight, six and five candidates respectively. Delhi has 70 assembly seats. There are 13.3 million voters, of whom 5.9 million are women.

 Congress turncoat and BJP candidate from Patel Nagar Krishna Tirath said: "Women's security is definitely a major issue. The root cause of all trouble is the declining sex-ratio and social evils like dowry."

 Tirath, a former woman and child development minister in the UPA government, told IANS: "When I was a minister at the centre, then I had launched a scheme called 'saksham' for boys, which was aimed at counselling them on gender parity.

 "I would propose to bring in the same scheme in Delhi. Once we address this issue, then the situation on women's security will automatically improve," she said.

 Former BJP councillor and candidate from the Timarpur assembly constituency, Rajni Abby, said all laws made for women need to be properly implemented.

 "Prosecution in such cases should be fast," Abby told IANS.

 She said innovative measures like more CCTV cameras for the entire city would also be explored. "If so many cameras can be put up for the visit of (US) President (Barack) Obama, then why not every day for women's security?"

 Abby also has innovative proposals like making mothers and sisters of rape accused apply for their bail.

 Last but not the least, she said that the BJP's chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi has been in the police and has been a long-time champion of women's security.

 "She is the best bet to make Delhi safer for women. This (Bedi as chief minister) sends a clear message how seriously we take this issue," she added.

 As far CCTV cameras go, they seem to be the common promise of all parties.

 According to Congress candidate from Greater Kailash and President Pranab Mukherjee's daughter Sharmishtha Mukherjee, very strong and concerted efforts have to be made by the state and the police for women's security.

 "Delhi Police have to increase the number of personnel on public transport. CCTV cameras have to be installed in public transport and not only this, they also have to be monitored," Mukherjee told IANS.

 She promised an increase in the number of home guards and more women security personnel.

 "We will also run gender sensitization programmes at all levels," she added.

 The first-time candidate proposed monitoring of all taxis, which are hired by women passengers. "Why can't random calls be made to the drivers and women passengers to ensure their safety," she asked.

 Asked about BJP fielding Bedi for the chief minister's post, Mukherjee said: "Kiran Bedi has been involved with the women's movement, but when you elect a chief minister there are different things involved."

 Kiran Walia, a Congress candidate and former health and women and child development minister in the Delhi government, said that it was her party that had introduced major schemes for women's security in the capital during its 15-year regime that ended in Dec 2013.

 "The (successor) 49-day AAP government had discontinued most of them," Walia, who is contesting from the New Delhi constituency, told IANS.

 The AAP's Bandana Kumari said her party has always stood for women's security, adding that if her party is voted to power, a special women's security force with 10,000 personnel would be raised.

 "We will also deploy marshals in public transport to ensure the best possible security for women," Bandana Kumari, who is contesting from Shalimar Bagh, told IANS.

Set up SIT for Sikh 'genocide', Badal asks Modi

Chandigarh, Feb 1 (IANS) Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Sunday sought the personal intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for constituting a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe all cases related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.


 In a letter to Modi, Badal said the "genocide" of Sikhs was a "pre-planned" incident at the behest of Congress leaders.

 Badal urged the central government to take an immediate call on the recommendations of the Justice (retd) G.P. Mathur panel, constituted by the centre in December last year, to re-investigate several cases related to anti-Sikh violence that broke out in November 1984 after the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi.

 The chief minister said the Shiromani Akali Dal has been struggling to get justice for the victims of the 1984 riots in Delhi and other parts of the country.

 He said that on the Akali Dal's demand, the Justice Mathur panel was constituted in December 2014, by the central government to examine the possibility of constitution of an SIT for re-investigating the 1984 'genocide'.

 Badal said the panel had, in its 45-page report, suggested setting up of an SIT.

 Demanding re-investigation of many cases where crucial evidence was overlooked and cases were closed by Delhi Police even without sending them to courts, Badal said all such cases needed to be re-opened.

 Accusing the previous Congress-led government at the centre and in Delhi of pushing the anti-Sikh riots cases under the carpet, Badal said the recommendations of the Mathur panel had given new hope to victims of the riots.

 "By doing so, the government of India will assuage the bruised psyche of the Sikh community and help them get justice," Badal said.

 Hundreds of Sikhs were targeted and killed in Delhi and other places across India by mobs in the aftermath of Indira Gandhi's assassination by her two Sikh security personnel in October 1984.

 Many Congress leaders were accused of instigating mobs to target Sikhs during the riots.

Delhi vote this week will be two-horse race

New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS) After a 49-day AAP government and President's rule for nearly a year, Delhi will vote later this week to elect a new administration whose control has virtually become a two-horse contest between the BJP and the AAP.


 The Congress, which governed Delhi for 15 years and whose tally tumbled from 43 seats to 8 in the 2013 assembly polls, has arguably been out of the running for the 70 assembly seats since the beginning of the poll campaign. A total of 673 candidates from various political parties are in the fray for the Feb 7 (Saturday) polls. The results will be out Feb 10.

 For a resurgent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has been on a winning streak in other states' assembly polls after it rode to power in the centre in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, it is a "battle of prestige". It has been out of power since 1998 in the national capital.
 For the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which resigned following a 49-day stint after it stunned the entire country by toppling the ruling Congress, winning Delhi is a make or break of sorts.

 The poll campaigning has already reached its crescendo with the AAP and the BJP pulling out all stops and going hammer and tongs at each other.

 On the one hand, the BJP is hard-selling Prime Minister Narendra Modi's model of development to gain power and on the other, it is running a high-decibel campaign to slam the AAP and its chief, Arvind Kejriwal.

 By issuing advertisements in the print and electronic media, which lampoon Kejriwal, the BJP has made it quite evident that it sees the AAP as its only roadblock in claiming the Delhi throne.

 So much so that it roped in Kejriwal's friend-turned-foe and former police officer Kiran Bedi and declared her as its chief ministerial candidate. The move was in contradiction to its earler stand of contesting under a collective leadership.

 Since women's security has also become a major poll issue, the step was also seen as crucial to wooing women voters. There are 13.3 million voters, of whom 5.9 million are women.

 "We can't take them (AAP) for granted like we did in the last polls," said a senior BJP leader. He, however, said "the party will romp home as Kejriwal has been exposed".

 How serious a threat is the AAP to the BJP is clear from the fact the BJP-led central cabinet ministers and other stalwarts like Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had to be brought in to campaign.

 Modi has already held three poll rallies in the capital and is expected to address two more.

 Besides, tackling a powerful and resourceful BJP, the AAP's other challenge is to convince voters that it won't quit again.

 In all the public meetings across the capital, which will total up to 120 by Feb 5, as an AAP source said, Kejriwal never forgets to make one particular point: "Is bar istifa nahin denge."(Won't resign this time)".

 Kejriwal quit as Delhi chief minister last Feb 14 after failing to pass the anti-graft Jan Lokpal bill in the assembly. President's rule was imposed Feb 17. In the 2013 polls, the BJP had bagged 31 seats and the AAP 28.

 "The people were upset with us only because we quit the government. But we are driving our point home in every public meeting we hold that we were forced to resign," AAP leader Manish Sisodia told IANS.

 In an interview to IANS, Kejriwal had admitted that middle class had become disillusioned with the party, but was now returning to the AAP's fold.

 It would be an uphill task for the Congress to regain ground. It seems more to be a battle for survival. The party is banking on former union minister Ajay Maken, who has been appointed as its campaign chief.

 Delhi Congress unit chief and former minister Arvinder Singh Lovely not contesting reflects the low morale of the party.

 A three-time cabinet minister in Sheila Dikshit's cabinet, Lovely was one of the eight MLAs who retained their seats in 2013.

 In its manifesto, the party eulogizes its achievements during its 15-year rule and offers what largely seems to be promises already made by the AAP - cheap power and water.

 "We are reaching out to people and telling that both the AAP and the BJP are two sides of the same coin. AAP made a mess of Delhi in 49 days and BJP failed to do anything for Delhi in the past seven months," Maken told IANS.

 So far, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and her son and party vice president Rahul Gandhi have addressed three rallies. The party is trying to woo the voters living in slums - a traditional vote bank which shifted to the AAP in the last poll.

 "We are aiming to get at least 12 seats," said a party insider.

 Sanjay Kumar, a fellow at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies told IANS: "Congress retaining its seats might throw another hung assembly in Delhi."

Swine flu claims first victim in Odisha (Lead)

Bhubaneswar, Feb 1 (IANS) The dreaded swine flu Sunday claimed its first victim of this year in Odisha, with a 42-year-old man dying of the disease at a hospital in Cuttack, a doctor said.


 Aditya Narayan Jena of Mukundaprasad in Khurdha district died due to the swine flu disease at the SCB Medical College and Hospital, the hospital's emergency officer Bhubananada Maharana said.

 Jena - the cousin of Bhubaneswar mayor Anant Narayan Jena - was being treated at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar and was Sunday shifted to the SCB Medical College and Hospital after his condition deteriorated.

 "The patient was in a very critical condition when he was brought here. Doctors here tried their best, but could not revive him," Maharana said.

 Following the death, health department officials held an emergency meeting to review the situation in the state.

 Health secretary Arati Ahuja said it was first death due to swine flu this year.

 She, however, said there was no need for panic as the government was taking steps to prevent the spread of the disease.

 Jena had tested positive for the H1N1 swine flu virus Saturday, taking the number of patients who have tested positive for the dreaded disease in the state to four.

 "The patient was a diabetic and was brought to hospital in a critical condition that made it difficult for doctors to treat him," said public health director Kailash Dash.

 He said doctors have administered preventive medicines to his family members and others who came in contact with the person.

President, PM congratulate Paes (Lead)

New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS) President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday congratulated Indian tennis icon Leander Paes for winning the Australian Open mixed doubles title in Melbourne, partnering Swiss veteran Martina Hingis.


 "Leander Paes continues to make us proud! I congratulate him on the mixed doubles win with Martina Hingis at the Australian Open," Modi tweeted.

 Echoing the same sentiment, Mukherjee tweeted: ìCongratulations to Leander Paes on the Mixed Doubles win at the Australian Open.î

 Paes and his Swiss partner Hingis, former World No.1, beat French-Canadian team of Kristina Mladenovic and Daniel Nestor, who won last year, in straight sets to clinch the mixed doubles crown.

 The 41-year-old Paes has now won 15 Grand Slam titles -- eight men's doubles and seven mixed doubles. It was his third mixed doubles triumph at Melbourne Park, having also won in 2003 with Martina Navratilova and in 2010 with Cara Black.

Maxwell guides Australia to tri-series victory (Roundup)

Perth, Feb 1 (IANS) Hosts Australia gave a warning to other cricketing nations ahead of the World Cup at home with a comprehensive 112-run drubbing of England in the final to lift the tri-series trophy at the WACA here Sunday.


 Australia dominated the match as they did in the entire series, winning all their matches, to make themselves favourites for the mega quadrennial event which gets underway Feb 14 in Australia and New Zealand.

 An all-round performance by man-of-the-match Glenn Maxwell helped Australia post a strong total of 278/8 and then bowl out England for a mere 166 runs in only 39.1 overs.

 The day totally belonged to Maxwell as the 26-year-old all-rounder not just notched up his highest One-Day International (ODI) score of 95, but also clinched his best bowling figures of 4/46.

 England captain Eoin Morgan's decision to bowl first was vindicated as Australia were tottering at 60/4. Australia's top-4 -- Aaron Finch (0), David Warner (12), Steven Smith (2) and captain George Bailey (40) -- perished within the 18th over.

 It was at this point when Maxwell struck a significant 141-run fifth-wicket partnership with Mitchell Marsh (60), taking the hosts past the 200-run mark. The combine helped Australia recover from a poor start.

 However, Maxwell fell five short of his maiden hundred and his wicket was followed by that of Marsh's. Wicketkeeper-batsman Brad Haddin (9) also fell in a span of 11 deliveries, making Australia panic once more at 224/7 in the 45th over.

 However, a blitzkrieg unbeaten half-century by James Faulkner (50 not out), off just 24 balls which included four fours and sixes each, took the four-time World Champions to a challenging total.

 England pacer James Anderson was lethal with the new ball and ended with figures of 2/38 from his 10 overs while Stuart Broad picked up 3/55 from his 10.

 In reply, the England innings never took off as the batsmen kept getting out at regular intervals right from the start. Middle-order batsman Ravi Bopara was the top scorer of his team with 33 while opener Moeen Ali scored 26.

 Maxwell was the highest wicket-taker while lethal fast bowler Mitchell Johnson, returning from an injury break, was right on target with 3/27 from his seven overs which was studded with two maidens. New ball bowler Josh Hazlewood (2/13) clean bowled Steven Finn (6) to wrap up the England innings.

 Brief scores: Australia 278/8 in 50 overs (Glenn Maxwell 95, Mitchell Marsh 60, James Faulkner 60 not out; Stuart Broad 3/55, James Anderson 2/38) beat England 166 all out in 39.1 overs (Ravi Bopara 33, Moeen Ali 26, Joe Root 25; Glenn Maxwell 4/46, Mitchell Johnson 3/27, Josh Hazlewood 2/13).

Give me chance to serve you: Modi to Delhiites

New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday called for a BJP government in Delhi, saying the national capital needs an administration which works in harmony with his central government.


 Addressing a rally in west Delhi's Dwarka area ahead of the February 7 assembly elections, Modi hit out at the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress for making "false promises" to woo voters.

 He said Delhi needs a government which works in harmony with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government and not one "which launches agitation day and night".

 Modi urged the people not to give a fractured mandate and give his party full majority. He said Delhi was capital of the country and even small activity has an impact.

 Modi said he was indebted to the people of Delhi for their support in the Lok Sabha elections.

 "I have to return it by doing development. I have to solve problems in every part (of Delhi). Give me a chance to serve you," he said.

 "Delhi needs a stable government. Form government of people whom you trust."

 He said there was a competition to "speak lies" among the rival parties.

 "The competition is to make false promises. Such kind of false promises were not made in Delhi elections earlier. A new lie is manufactured every 24 hours."

 Modi did not name the AAP or its leader Arvind Kejriwal but attacked the party several times during his over 40-minute speech.

 Modi said Delhi needs a responsible, sensitive government and running an administration was a serious task which has to be carried out by understanding problems of the people.

 "You cannot do it by running away," he said, taking a dig at Kejriwal who quit as the chief minister just after 49 days.

 Modi also said the AAP and the Congress clandestinely joined hands after the last assembly polls. "The (AAP-led) government was formed by betraying the people," he said.

 Delhi goes to the polls Feb 7 to elect a 70-member assembly. The votes will be counted Feb 10.