NEW DELHI, Jan 23:
Rahul Gandhi today formally took over as vice president of the Congress, pitching for positive politics and promising to make the party an “instrument of change” and more accessible to both the youth and the experienced.
Regretting that the current environment in politics was “extremely acrimonious”, the 42-year-old leader asserted that negative politics is not going to take this country forward.
Dressed in jeans and a white kurta, Rahul, who arrived amid tight security, sought to be informal with party workers and press photographers seeking their views on the recently- concluded ‘chintan shivir’ of the party.
“We are always fighting with each other. Often I feel that we are fighting with each other for small reasons. Basically all of us feel the same thing and I think what would like to do is try and reduce that thing slightly.
“I don’t want to get into negative politics. I don’t want to be critical of everybody. I want to get into positive politics. Because positive politics is what is going to take this country forward. Negative politics is not going to take this country forward,” Gandhi said from the AICC podium.
When a reporter sought to know does it mean he does not like debates on TV, he shot back saying, “I like all sorts of debates.”
In interaction with senior party leaders, he sought to raise their comfort level saying there were some leaders like Ahmed Patel, Motilal Vora, Mohsina Kidwai and others, whose experience in politics is more than his age and he is looking forward to draw from their experience.
“Congress party is best instrument to change things. It is the best instrument to bring youngsters into politics. I think it is the most powerful instrument.
“What I want to do is to take the Congress family, make it accessible to as many youngsters and experienced people as possible and try and use this instrument to change this country,” Gandhi later told the media.
The Committee did not recommend death penalty for rape because it was a “regressive step” and it “may not have a deterrent effect”.
“We have not recommended death penalty as we had overwhelming suggestions against it. The women groups unanimously were against death penalty and that is why we thought that is a strong reason to respect that view particularly in view of the modern trend also,” Justice Verma said.
Among the amendments proposed is a change in Section 100 of the IPC dealing with right of private defence which extends to causing death.
Taking note of the brutality committed in the Delhi gang-rape incident, the Committee suggested replacement of Section 375 defining rape by defining specific unnatural acts.
Intentional touching will constitute the offence of sexual assault for which punishment will be a maximum of five years rigorous imprisonment or fine or both.
Use of words, gestures which create an unwelcome threat of sexual nature or advance would invite a maximum punishment of one year imprisonment or fine or both.
Justice Verma came down heavily on Union Home Secretary R K Singh for praising Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar in the wake of the gang rape incident instead of coming out with an apology.
The Committee said the Delhi gang-rape incident has disclosed the failure of many public functionaries responsible for traffic regulation, maintenance of law and order and more importantly, their low and skewed priority of dealing with complaints of sexual assault.
Disputes relating to the jurisdiction of the police over the area of the crime are often a cause of delay in initiating the process of taking cognisance of the crime and providing medical aid to the victim.
The panel said the peculiarity of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi not having any control over the police force, which control vests only in the Ministry of Home Affairs is the reason given publicly by the Delhi Chief Minister for the absence of responsibility of her government.
“This ambiguity must be removed forthwith so that there is no divided responsibility in Delhi in respect of maintenance of law and order. Such a step is also essential to maintain accountability,” it said.
The Committee also took note of the apathy of civil society and mentioned about the inaction of passers-by and bystanders, who failed in their citizenship duty of rendering help to the Delhi gang-rape victim and her companion who were lying badly injured and disrobed on the roadside for a considerable amount of time.
“Misbehaviour of the police towards any samaritan is often the cause for such apathy. Bust this must not deter citizens from doing their duty. A change in the behaviour of the citizenry will also improve the conduct of the police. This effort must be promoted,” it said. (PTI)
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