Discontent
in Bihar BJP over reshuffle by Nitish
Kumar
PATNA, Apr 18: Within the
framework of the Constitution but no
question of talks outside the framework
of the Constitution", he clarified.
On being
told that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had
allegedly said the ULFA’s core
demand issue of ‘sovereignty’
could be discussed, the Union minister
said, "I don’t think a chief
minister would ever say that".
Kumar said
violence could never be an acceptable
mechanism for achieving any goal.
Replying
in the affirmation to a querry if the
coming Lok Sabha polls would be on time,
the Union Minister said, "the Lok
Sabha will complete its full term and the
Government will also go to its end".
The thrust
areas of the UPA Government for the
Northeast region was dairy development
and tea export, he said.
On the
measures taken for controlling price
rise, Kumar said, "whatever steps
necessary the Government has taken...
dehoarding drive, stopping of cement and
steel export. There has been a rollback
of the inflation rate. Some time will be
required as the price rise is a global
situation. The rise in crude oil price
has a cascading effect on the prices of
all other goods". (PTI)
Increasing
number of juveniles taking to crime
AHMEDABAD, Apr 18: Gujarat has
witnessed a steady increase in cases of
kidnapping and molestation by juveniles,
with 472 such cases registered last year.
According
to figures compiled by Gujarat police
department’s CID (crime) and
Railways branch there were 107 cases of
molestation and 365 cases of kidnapping
by juveniles (below 16 years) in 2007 as
against 90 and 341 in 2006. The
corresponding figures for 2003 were 81
and 275.
"Overall
if you see, crime has become an
occupation. Youngsters take extreme
measures to make quick money. Economic
prosperity, especially in the cities, is
one of the major reasons for increase in
offences registered against juveniles in
the state," says Gaurang Jani, a
sociologist.
In 2007, a
total of 102 cases of rape, 52 murders,
422 accidental deaths and 83 suicide
deaths were registered against juveniles
in the state.
But in
terms of total cases against juveniles,
there has been a negligible decline from
1,378 in 2006 to 1,276 in 2007.
The
pattern that has emerged, say experts,
show how crime has been institutionalised
in our society.
"If
you see, primarily these are cases of
violence, only the forms of expression
are different. For teenagers its a form
of channelising their aggression,"
said psychologist Hansal Bhachech.
He said
reason for rise in rape, molestation
cases among teenagers has lot to do with
what they see around them.
"Kids
are mainly influenced by their
surroundings. Since our society has
become more violent in nature, its effect
is bound to be reflected on these
teenagers. Moreover, there is a
considerable impact of film and other
media on youngsters," Bhachech said.
Jani said
that exposure to sex at an early age
through various sources and absence of
formal sex education in schools brings
early maturity in a child.
"Children
these days have a new look towards sex.
For them, television has become a
reality. This sometimes manifests into
criminal action," Jani added.
District-wise
figures for 2006 reflect a similar trend
where more cases of kidnapping and
molestation have been registered.
A total of
94 kidnapping cases were registered in
the four major cities of the state namely
Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Surat and Vadodara.
Whereas, 75 cases were booked in Junagadh
Range which includes Amreli, Bhavnagar,
Junagadh and Porbander districts of
Saurashtra region.
Highest
number of molestation cases were
registered in Junagadh range. (PTI)
President
gives protocol jitters
MEXICO, Apr 18: President Pratibha
Patil gave protocol jitters as she
inadvertently passed the tricolour at the
ceremonial reception without bowing but
quickly went back after her attention was
drawn by the Mexican Guard Commander.
Patil, who
was inspecting a guard of honour by the
Mexican Presidential Guards, walked past
the Mexican flag without realising that
her Mexican counterpart Felipe Calderon
had stopped to pay respect to his
country’s flag.
The
President then moved ahead without
stopping before the Indian flag.
"Madam President...," the Guard
Commander called out and Patil quickly
retraced her steps and honoured the
tricolour.
The
Mexican leg of the President’s
13-day three-nation visit started on a
disappointing note as her address to the
joint session of Parliament had to be
cancelled at the last minute in view of
the blockade of the House by Left-leaning
legislators protesting presentation of
the Energy Reforms Bill by the Mexican
President.
During the
day, Patil addressed the Indian community
and spoke about the "privileged
partnership" between India and
Mexico.
"Indian
communities settled in different parts of
the world are making an important
contribution to the economy, life,
culture and social values of those
nations," she said, adding though
the number of Indians and the people of
Indian origin in Mexico is not very
large, they have begun to make a mark in
this country, particularly in the
economic sector.
"Relations
between our two countries are poised to
develop and diversify in a variety of
sectors. In this process, members of the
Indian community living and working
abroad and our diaspora have a very
important role to play," Patil said.
The
President later attended a banquet hosted
in her honour by the Mexican President
during which she said "Indians
gratefully remember the contribution of
Mexico’s ‘Sonara’ variety
of wheat to our Green Revolution decades
ago."
Touching
upon the "Privileged
Partnership" between the the two
countries, she said this was based not
"just on our commonalities in the
past, but on the vision that we share for
the future for our bilateral relations
and also for the world".
She said
it was important that they draw up a road
map for the rapid development of our
trade and economic relationship.
"As
the largest democracy in the world, we
have great admiration for the vibrancy of
Mexico’s democracy. The democratic
yearnings of our two countries, our faith
in non-violence and dialogue; the
pluralistic and secular credentials of
our polities make us natural allies in
facing the global challenges of today.
"We
have had cooperation in the past in
international fora, be it the UN or the
WTO, and on issues like Climate Change,
the Doha trade negotiations and the fight
against terrorism. It is critical that
our two countries continue to display
even greater harmony in the coming
days," she added. (PTI)
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