1. God says goodbye to ODIs Katie Holmes
Dreams of skating |
Sachin has announced retirement from
Charge sheet filed against Saif
one-day cricket | PaGe 11
PaGe 7
D Divya
D
Daring & Dynamic Delhi national english weekly
NEW DELHI | www.divyadelhi.com | E-mail: info@divyadelhi.com | December 24, 2012 | Page 12 | Vol. 1 No. 3 | ` 5 |
India T
he recent
gang rape
in Delhi has
demands
sent ripples
across the country.
Protests are reported
from across the country
demanding justice for
the victim. A report
justice
by Novita Singh says
that the gory crime
has not only angered
India but raised some
questions which need
to be answered if India
wants to remove tag of
‘the worst place to be a
woman’ from her fore-
head. Page 2
photo by Arush Bhatt
NATION Op-ed Business & economy
Can politicians prove..... Is Indian customer really a king? Banking Amendment: boon or bane?
Reports Rajesh Chauhan Third Eye By Harish Barthwal Reports Bhumika Bhargav
PaGe 3 PaGe 5 PaGe 10
2. 2 lead story DIVYA DELHI | New Delhi | December 24, 2012
‘Rare’rape raises Qs sent ripples across the country. Protests
are reported from across the country. In
amendments to law, various national
level organizations and various non-
Delhi, It wasn’t just India Gate - protest- government organizations too have over
ers breached the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the the years tried to find a solution to it.
Delhi Chief Minister’s residence was Alternate perception based campaigns
picketed and at 10 Janpath, Sonia Gan- like Blank Noise and Slut Walk too have
dhi’s residence, people were detained. tried to do their part by bringing out the
The very same week there were in- rape and molested victims out in the
stances of rape and other crimes reported open. However, things don’t look better
in other parts of the country. A crime in but just the contrary.
an urban space receives more attention Suggestions ranging from anarchy for
because of the urban presence of news the system to capital punishment and
organizations and the urban tech savvy chemical castration for the offenders
breed of people that are constantly ex- have been offered. It’s a general belief
pressing themselves over the social net- that if the punishment is stricter then the
working sites that gives an issue interna- perpetrators of crime will fear and not
tional audience. commit a certain crime. But, it has been
What is evident is that irrespective found that even harsher punishment
of the geographical location, safety of doesn’t stop individuals from commit-
women is an issue in this country. As of ting crimes. Moreover, punishment
October 2012, as many as 963 rape cases becomes meaningless when it is late.
await trial in six districts of Delhi. First- But, the general rage that is sweeping
post India reports, “Delaying tactics by across the nation only sees a population
the defence, adjournments on frivolous that is confused and angry and wants to
grounds, insensitive public prosecutors feel safe. Many fear sending their own
and overburdened courts, say criminal daughters, sisters and friends alone at
lawyers, are some of the reasons why any point in the day for the sheer safety
rape cases carry on for years without concern. But then does restricting the
any hope of justice.” mobility of an individual and creating
Novita Singh But, what is also important to look fear solve anything in the whole equa-
into is that what gets qualified as a rape tion. If not then where does the answer
INDIA: The rare and gory gang rape of case. Rape as a criminal act falls under
a 23-year-old paramedical student in a lie?
Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code The answer to it lies in everything -
moving bus in the heart of the national which is punishable through life impris-
capital has not only angered India but from our schools to our media, from our
onment. An act of forcible penetration laws to our governance. But, more than
raised some questions which need to be carried out by one or more people com-
answered if India wants to remove tag anything it lies in our upbringing. We are
bined with assault is described as rape. the preachers, perpetrators and the audi-
of ‘the worst place to be a woman’ from However, there are instances where the
her forehead. ence of the best kind of hypocrisy. We
law has been misappropriated to accuse worship goddesses but aggrandize only
As Delhi continued to lead the unprec- an individual for a crime not committed.
edented countrywide protests against our male gods in public forums. Woman
For instance, it has been observed that
Delhi gang rape, a three-year-old girl as an entity is never an isolate figure but
certain women indulge in consensual
was raped in a play-school in West Delhi an extension of her male counterpart–be
cohabitation and then later file charges
by the husband of school owner. What it our literature or religion, and if she is
of rape against their sexual partners, if
does this show? It shows the general per- in isolation then she better be a warrior
their relations go awry or if they want to
ception in India that “you can get away goddess or a movie star. From our re-
take revenge. The police and courts also
no matter what crime you do”. This gressive television, dailies and stereo-
sense ‘foul play’ as soon as such cases
perception is a direct challenge for the typical advertisements to our need to re-
come before them, but such ‘misuse of
governments, judiciary, police and other laws’ also blocks the prospects of the serve seats for women along with senior
law enforcement agencies. But, the justice for real rape victim. As India citizens and handicapped in our public
people must understand that is about to make rape a gender neutral transport – everything reeks of hypoc-
nation of self-centred offence, it is high time the government risy. The issue can never be resolved
citizens seldom ensures that the ‘betrayal’ shouldn’t be because we are always curbing the
makes history. treated at par with rape. problem, never curing it. We want our
“Men abuse However, the ground reality remains girls to be educated but not liberal. We
women in every that rape as an offence is on the rise teach them to talk but not to question.
society, but few along with the host of other crimes Which is why, it is not about whether we
males do it with against women. Women in India are were one of the first nations to have a
as much impunity, unsafe and the issue is only worsening female prime minister or had a female
violence and regu- with time. National Crime Records Bu- president in the last term. It is about if
larity as the Indian reau in India records a hike of 7.1 % in we can see our girls and women exer-
male,” observed col- crimes against women between 2010 cising their right to choose, to live free
umnist Samar Halarnkar and 2011 – a total number of 228,650 from societal obligations and to voice as
after the gang rape. What crimes against women. But there can be much as she wants without branding her
is it that makes this country various speculations behind the reason as a prostitute. It is about our mentality,
as a global poll of experts in for the same but more than everything about our understanding of women and
June 2012 suggested, “…the it has to do with the status of women in their space. It is about acknowledging
worst place to be a woman.” In- this country. that “she” is not just a mother, wife, sis-
dia ranked below Saudi Arabia in Few months back, an article in The ter and a daughter but an individual. It is
the poll, a country that recently al- Guardian said that as per the report of about understanding that every time we
lowed its women to drive. But what is the International Center for Research teach our children about women’s space
that makes the world’s largest democ- on Women, 45% of Indian women are in a conventional framework, we are
racy the most unsafe place for women? married before the age of 18 and a re- perpetrating the chain of thought – the
To name few, crimes against women search from Unicef in 2012 found that chain of thought that leads our women
range from rape, homicide for dowry, 52% of adolescent women think its jus- to be treated as objects, that contributes
molestation, trafficking. The Hindu re- tifiable for a man to raise his hand on a to them and their presence being under-
ported this week that the number of rape woman and 57% of adolescent men feel stood as only to fulfill the demands of
cases in Tumkur district in Karnatka is the same. Over the past three decades 12 the opposite gender. And yes, we must
on an increase and that many go unreg- million girls have been aborted because teach our boys something better – teach
istered because of the vague tradition of the preference of a male child. In es- them to understand women, teach them
of attaching the family’s honour to the sence, this country suffers from a suffo- to hear their wives and daughters and
girl. The same day The Times of India cative patriarchal air. teach them to not look at them as sheer
reported that rape cases against teenage Various solutions have been debated objects but more than anything we as
girls in Mumbai rose by 29% this year. and deliberated over for decades to hin- a society need to be learning a lot and
The recent gang rape in Delhi has der the crime against women. Various working on it together.
3. DIVYA DELHI | New Delhi | December 24, 2012 nation 3
Can politicians prove protestors wrong?
N E W
DELHI:
A 23-
year-old
bubbling
girl is
raped by
a barbar-
By Rajesh Chauhan ic gang
of monsters in a moving
bus and thrown out of the
bus along with her beaten
friend, in the national
capital. The girl battles
for her life in a hospital
and despite being unable
to speak, she questions
first thing to her parents
in writing: have they (rap-
ists) been caught? ‘They
should be punished” she
wrote other day. And fi-
nally, “I want to live”.
The gory rape saga rages
India, and Delhi becomes
the epicenter of the coun-
trywide protests.
Angered citizens, main-
ly young girls and boys,
came out on streets and
walked towards homes of
Congress President Sonia
Gandhi, President Pranab
Mukherjee, Delhi Chief
Minster Sheila Dikshit,
and headquarters of Delhi
Police. While Sheila Dik- photos by Arush Bhatt
shit, the longest serving
chief minister of Delhi,
has tried to save her skin Minister Sushil Kumar of these incidents were
in providing security to Twitterati Shinde is has disappeared
from the scene as though
without any violent provo-
cation from the protesters.
the women by saying that
“Delhi Police is not under such horrific rapes are nor- The RAF would appear
Delhi Government”.
Nikhil Kharoo @nkharoo: “Gangrape victim in the ICU mal in India. in hundreds every hour
Congress President Sonia has spoken more words than PM in last 3 days..!!” - At the time of filing this or so and Lathi charge the
Gandhi has done her bit by Forwarded message by a friend.” #DelhiProtests report, a major develop- public, provoked or other-
meeting the protestors twice ment indicated that Delhi wise,” he writes.
and assuring them of suit- Rape Protest may also die It was also alleged
able and prompt justice to aanchalsethi @aanchalsethi: “its sad we live in a de- down like earlier spontane- that the Akhil Bharati-
the horrendous rape victim, mocracy where we want our leaders to speak. but all ous mass movements: the ya Vidyarthi Parishad
who continues to be critical they do is close doors while the nation protests.” peaceful protest at India (ABVP), the student wing
and doctors are subjecting Gate turned violent! Delhi of the Baharatiya Janata
her to various tests at the Police say it is the hooli- Party (BJP), and the Na-
time of filing of this report. shadan @shadanmd: “A mass protest of this nature gans who have taken cen- tional Students Union of
“We are subjecting her needs to be dealt politically and through dialogue...not tre stage and are molesting India (NSUI), the student
to all examinations and girls and attacking police wing of the Congress,
by enforcing administrative measures.” #delhiprotests and Rapid Action Force. tried to hijack the sponta-
procedures. She contin-
ues to be critical,” Dr B Eyewitnesses tell a differ- neous and peaceful mass
D Athani, Medical Super- Prakash Sharma @Prakash_Sharma: “NSUI should be ent story. An eyewitness, movement.
intendent of Safdurjung boycotted by all students for its attempt to politicize AGhambhir, wrote on his Though the protestors
Hospital, told PTI on Sun- blog (http://crispybabelf- have been chased away
day.
#DelhiProtests”. ish.blogspot.in/2012/12/ by the police from the VIP
Doctors had said on Sat- images-from-india-gate- areas and other sites like
urday that the rape victim nary danger of going in to connect chord with the too little, too late. when-protest.html) that India gate, but they have
is psychologically “com- it was RAF being violent given a message to the
front of angered protes- youth of this country. But, Politicians have also
posed and optimistic” without any provocation. VIPs: we know you are
about her future and has tors? he has missed the chance. taken back stage after de- “While I was there, I was hypocrites. Now the ques-
started communicating. Even politically, this Even if he comes into the livering emotional speech- tear-gassed thrice and hit tion is: can politicians
Congress’ youth icon was the chance for Rahul scene, it will be considered es in the parliament. Home with a Lathi once. All four prove protestors wrong?
and prime minister in
waiting, Rahul Gandhi
and Prime Minister Dr
Manmohan Singh have
not done what they were
supposed to do.
Manmohan Singh
should have addressed the
raged nation that the gov-
ernment would come down
severely on the wrongdo-
ers. Instead, he met only
with women MPs on the
issue and assured them of
justice to the rape victim.
Rahul Gandhi is sur-
prisingly absent from the
scene. Have his advisors
warned him of the imagi-
4. 4 editorial DIVYA DELHI | New Delhi | December 24, 2012
Time to send criminals where they belong to
I
ndia is raged over the grue- hatma Gandhi’s three monkeys Pradesh, one of BJP namely India one can easily guess how
some rape of a 23-year-old when it comes to fielding their Jethabhai G.Ahir from Gu- hard it is to prove ‘powerful
medical student in national candidates. jarat and one of TDP namely accused’ guilty.
capital. Currently the media A report by Association for Kandikunta Venkata Prasad But, then shall society keep
is reporting about the outrage Democratic Reforms (ADR) from Andhra Pradesh. Thirty- quiet? No. It is high time that
over the gang-rape but how has once again highlighted the six other MLAs have declared India takes a pledge that no
long will it last? Till perhaps double-standards of the politi- that they have other charges criminal finds place in state
something else newsy turns up cal parties. It reveals that since of crimes against women such assemblies or parliament. Time
and perhaps until the next such 2007, political parties gave as outraging the modesty of a is ripe to force the political
or worst happens. It is also a tickets to 27 rape accused to woman, assault, insulting the parties to drop those candidates
fact that this is not the first time fight in state elections. The re- modesty of a woman etc. who have been convicted or
and the last time that a minor port stated that political parties Out of the 260 candidates accused of rape and sexual
girl or a major girl has been had also given tickets to 260 who declared that they have assaults. The voters should take
raped. Leave apart strangers, men who were charged with been charged with crimes a pledge that they won’t vote
over the years there have been other crimes against women, against women, 72 are inde- for even honest candidates of
cases of fathers, step-fathers / including molestation. Six pendent candidates, 24 have those parties which even field
uncles / grand fathers, neigh- MLAs have declared that they been given tickets by the BJP, one candidate of a criminal
bours coming from differ- least our assemblies and parlia- have charges of rape against 26 candidates have been given
ment shut doors for the crimi- background.
ent classes and religions in themselves in their sworn tickets by the Congress, 16
different countries, raping the nals. At least political parties affidavits submitted with the have been given tickets by the
ones who trust them the most. come out in open and pledge
that they won’t field even al-
Election Commission of India SP and 18 have been given Letter To The Readers
If that has happened over the at the time of their election. Of tickets by BSP.
W
generations, how can this be leged criminals as their party these six MLAs with declared It is unfortunate that election e have launched
stopped? Or, can it ever be candidates. Because, with the rape cases, three are from Sam- law only bars those convicted Divya Delhi, a
stopped? political parties trying to garner ajwadi Party namely Sribhag- from contesting, but those fac- National English
Without going into the public sympathy over the Delhi wan Sharma, Anoop Sanda and ing criminal charges, no matter Weekly with a tagline ‘Dar-
towering task of providing gang rape (and perhaps votes Manoj Kumar Paras from Uttar how heinous, face no such ing and Dynamic’, on the
a consensus answer to these in the next election), they have Pradesh, one from BSP namely impediment. With the current occasion of World Human
questions, it is high time that at over the years acted like Ma- Mohd. Aleem Khan from Uttar judicial and political system in Rights Day, 2012.
With this, we have exer-
cised our right of speaking
up for the Nation, You and
Law doesn’t Future of Instagram
as well as for Ourself.
Now, the ball is in your
court as it is your turn to
define eve-teasing T
Act. If You are happy, good
he online consum- no intention of selling your
for You and we wish You re-
ers all over the world photos, and we never did. We
main happy forever.
were shocked when don’t own your photos – you
in proper terms
However, if You are con-
they heard that Instagram, the do.”
cerned about the state of
mobile-application company To help clear confusion, affairs affecting Our na-
which allows participants to Instagram lets you compare tion,
share photos, was planning to the old TOS with the updated Your city, Your colony,
Main Toki or with fine or with both. sell their photographs to the one. Most of it is legalese, but Others, You and Your fam-
We live in a time where the advertisers. the key thing to note is that
T
ily then kindly Act: Contact
eve teasers roam about in multi Instagram on December 17 Instagram still exercises the
he law doesn’t even define Us!
million cars, use high-tech gad- said that that it has the perpetu- right to license your photos in
eve-teasing in proper For, we are looking for
terms. So how do we gets and stab people in the public al right to sell users’ photo- any way it sees fit, but not sell people who React when
expect to punish culprits and who resist eve-teasing (Yes graphs without payment or them and take your right to something goes wrong but
give justice to the victim’s when its true. Read Keenan case for notification, a dramatic policy claim ownership. More info is don’t Act in the absence of
the very term isn’t even defined? details) and the fine amount still shift that quickly sparked a also available in the service’s
remains Rs 2000-Rs 5000 with a right tool and platform.
We do have some laws but they public outcry. But, after the official privacy policy. We are also looking for
just seem for namesake and are the jail term being 3 months, netizens cried foul, Instagram For those that don’t know,
how hopelessly impractical is thinkers, scholars, aca-
toothless. instantly changed its tone. Instagram was recently bought demicians, professionals,
1. Section 298 (A) and (B) that? by Facebook, and the photo-
Instagram co-founder students, bureaucrats, vi-
of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) We are so busy deciding
Kevin Systrom published based social network has start- sionary politicians etcetera
sentences a man found guilty laws which take control of our
a new blog post detailing ed investigating plans to mon- to provide us opportunity
of making a girl or woman personal lives (Sec 399) that we
the service’s updated stance etize. The location metadata to work with themselves to
the target of obscene gestures, don’t have time to think about
on content ownership and associated with photos you meet Our Motto of contrib-
remarks, songs or recitation problems as serious as Eve teas-
ing which poses danger on each privacy: share on Instagram is valuable, uting in the larger interest
to a maximum jail sentence of “Going forward, rather than and Instagram has the right of the India and World.
three months. Section 292 of and every women stepping out
of the house. There is a serious obtain permission from you to share what it knows about We also require report-
the IPC also clearly spells out to introduce possible advertis- you (including pictures of your ers, trainee reporters, copy-
that showing pornographic or need to revamp the law on eve
teasing beginning with actually ing products we have not yet latte art, sunsets, kids, etc.) editors and photo journal-
obscene pictures, books or slips with potential advertisers. This ists to work with us.
defining it. developed, we are going to
to a woman or girl draws a fine
We can go on discussing take the time to complete our is no different than the way
of Rs. 2000 with two years of Editor
the laws and the flaws, giving plans, and then come back to Facebook or Google works.
rigorous imprisonment for the
first offender. opinions, holding candle light our users and explain how we In fact, there’s probably less
2. For repeated offence there marches, forming NGO’s but the would like for our advertising personal info to be gleaned
is a fine of Rs.5000 with five question remains is anyone lis- business to work. from Instagram than, say, your
Editor-in-Chief
years imprisonment imposed. tening? Does it matter to the high You also had deep concerns Google account.
Rajesh Chauhan
Under Section 509 of the IPC, and mighty that our women live about whether under our new If you’re really that scared
editorinchief@divyadelhi.
obscene gestures, indecent body without the protection of black terms, Instagram had any plans about the future of Instagram, com
language and acidic comments commando’s and are subject to to sell your content. I want to you can download your photos
directed at any woman or girl harsh reality of the situation? be really clear: Instagram has and close your account for good. Editor
or exhibits any such object or Is anyone bothered that when Hardeep Singh Bedi
intrudes upon the privacy of a daughter goes out of the house editor@divyadelhi.com
woman carries a penalty of for tuition or dance classes, her journalist001@gmail.com
simple imprisonment for one parents don’t get relief till she
year or a fine or both. is back home safe and sound Designers
3. Under Section 354 , Who- without being harassed, when Sanjeev Kumar
ever assaults or uses criminal a women goes out to work and Manoj Singh Rana
force on any woman, intend- is working late shift the only
Printed, published and owned by
ing to outrage or knowing it to thought that goes on in her mind Rajesh Chauhan. Published at
be likely that he will thereby is how to reach home safely. BG-6/305B, Paschim Vihar, Delhi-
outrage her modesty, shall be We have failed so miserably to 110063. Printed at Divya Offset
Printers, B-1422, New Ahsok
punished with imprisonment protect our women and yet we sit Nagar, Mayur Vihar, Delhi-10096.
of either description for a term and formulate laws to “protect” F2 (d-3) PRESS/2012
which may extend to two years, our country. Irony!
5. DIVYA DELHI | New Delhi | December 24, 2012 Op-Ed 5
Is Indian customer really a king?
ironically, their creation. etc. and then on humans noodles, etc. from our for protection against issues protecting the in-
Third Eye Acclaimed far and loud in various locations over favourite food corner fraudulent, deceitful or terests of consumers are
and highlighted in com- a length of time. Still, after we know the how misleading information, covered under acts like
pany announcements the routine bans now on one the water for cooking is advertising, labelling, or Indian Contract Act, Sale
slogan ostensibly shows drug, then on another, in arranged or utensils are other practices; the right of Goods Act, the Es-
that they highly value the the wake of their having cleaned. The plight of to be heard in a forum. sential Commodities Act,
consumer, his require- demonstrated serious ef- customer is no better with To these was added the the Prevention of Food
ments and sentiments. fect on health only speaks the well known names. right to consumer educa- Adulteration Act. Another
In real terms, it is since of the type and the way In all market deals the tion by later President laudable initiative in pro-
Harish Barthwal
being used as a strategy R&D was done before its terms & conditions of Gerald Ford. For protect- tecting consumer interest,
N
with sufficient measure launch. sale are invariably loaded ing consumer interests at applauded worldwide,
ot too long ago, of success to keep the world level, the Consum- is the framing of the
The planners, presum- in favour of the dealer
buyers had little existing and forthcoming ers International (CI), Standards of Weights and
ably in league with the so that despite all logic
or no choices customers in receptive the umbrella body, for Measures Act.
manufacturing lobby, and sense, the clauses
in almost all branded mode so that profits keep 240 organisations in over As on date, there is
goods and services. For tell us that with people – whenever ambiguous –
on rolling. spending more on what- shall be interpreted in a 100 countries, expanded a separate ministry or
example, among cooking Consumer is actually the charter of consumers department of consumer
oil there was only (hydro- ever, the economy surges way that the buyer has to
the king in United States forward. This philosophy bear the brunt. rights contained in the affairs at centre and in
genated) Dalda or Rath, where 70 percent of US Bill. every state. However,
in breads it was Britannia is in perfect sync with The movement of
the country’s growth is what the business wants. Consumer Rights began In India, to safeguard what turns out each time
or Modern, in cars there is that the consumer
from the service industry So, the customers are in the US with former consumer interests in
was Ambassador or Fiat,
but not in India where being indoctrinated to President John F. Ken- pre-Independence era we loses the battle vis-à-vis
in cycles Atlas or Hero,
product and service believe that to stay with nedy who noted that “If had Indian Penal Code, giant industrial units. A
in cigarettes Panama,
options are limited. For time they need to have a consumer is offered in- Agricultural Production, major collective strategy
Cavanders, Charminar or
meals, you hardly have more and more acquisi- ferior products, if prices Grading and Marketing adopted by consumers has
Passing Show, in bathing
the traditional dal fry on tion, consume (read pur- are exorbitant, if drugs Act 1937, Drugs and been the boycott policy
soaps Lux and Lifebuoy,
most highways but dal chase) more and more. are unsafe or worthless, Cosmetics Act, 1940; under which the consum-
in the name of detergent
makhani instead since, Adverting and marketing if the consumer is unable later, headway was made ers avoid the products of
only Surf for long (the
by input of Rs. 2 or 3 campaigns are so devised to choose on an informed with Monopolies and Re- the designated company if
term remained synony-
for butter, you can be as to placate the popular basis, then his dollar is strictive Trade Practices it is not in public interest.
mous with any washing
charged Rs. 15 or 20 sentiments. The popular wasted, his health and (MRTP) Act and in 1986. But such a move neces-
powder for decades),
extra. Similarly, tea from TV channels, newspa- safety may be threatened, The Consumer Protection sitates solidarity on the
ditto with ‘Xerox’ –
many restaurants is being pers, radio stations and and national interest Act that was amended in parts of consumers. We
people often said, get
phased out. What mat- celebrities tell us to keep suffers.” Equating civil 1993 clearing the way for hope, in times to come
2 copies Xeroxed) and
ters more to the dealer buying irrespective of rights of consumer with 3-tier consumer courts at this strategy gathers
so on. The dealer usu-
is per customer margin its implications on our national interest, he union, state and district momemtum.
ally sold out whatever he
than what the customer health and environment. propounded basic rights: levels known as the Dis- In India, the aware-
produced or supplied. As
needs and looks for. For With degradation in the right to safety against trict Consumer Dispute ness is very low about the
such the manufacturer
and all those in supply basic requirements, we moral values all around, the marketing of goods Redressal Forum, State pro-consumer laws and
chain were real ‘Kings’. are living in an ambience no business unit has com- hazardous to health or Consumer Disputes Re- provisions such as The
Shrewd and discernible of monopoly markets punction in compromis- life; the right to choose dressal Commission and Essential Commodity Act,
as businessmen are – one – water supply, electric- ing with ethical values with access to a variety the National Consumer Drug and Cosmetic Act,
big reason why they stay ity, railways with tariffs Disputes Redressal Com- regulations about preven-
and norms – you may be of products and services
in business – they best and terms set under mission besides forma- tion of food adulteration,
appalled and some of us at competitive prices;
know how to extract parliamentary or legis- tion of Consumer Welfare display of price, etc.
may quit buying ‘tasty’ the right to information
money from the gull- lature Acts. There are Fund. For redressing In India, National Con-
ible consumers, reason no alternatives, and the stock-related grievances sumer Rights Day is ob-
enough they can sell issue of consumer rights of the consumers, Securi- served on 24 December
a comb to a bald man. hardly has any relevance ties and Exchange Board to endorse solidarity with
Yes, people continue to in such areas. As for of India (SEBI) was es- the national consumer
procure many things they items beyond government tablished in 1992. To help movement and provid-
don’t need and ever use purview, the compa- the aggrieved in matters ing better protection of
either. nies proclaim that they of telephony and power consumers’ interests.
Yet when the con- conduct extensive R&D sector, the Telecom- Consumer Protection
cept of consumer rights to understand the precise munication Regulatory Act is considered as the
came to fore, it was the needs of the consumers Authority of India and Magna Carta for pro-
business class itself to
cash on it. The slogan,
like what pharmaceutical
companies supposedly do Customer the Central Electricity
Regulatory Commission
tecting consumer rights
through establishment of
‘Customer is the King’ is, for drugs – initially it is
on mice, dogs, monkeys
& Brands were formed in 1997 and
1998. Many of the other
advisory and adjudication
authorities.
Reservation in promotion violates human dignity
Abhay Singh Kushwaha the concept of FRATER- infringement of powers demanded. Next will be bers who have criminal/ tion provides backdoor
NITY within the Service of the Executive. It is un- the stage for OBCs to corrupt background; As- entry for such elements;
Reservation in Pro- as well as DIGNITY of constitutional because it demand promotion-reser- sociation for Democratic hence they very keen to
motion is violation of the superior individual. infringes equality clause. vation. Samajwadi Party Reforms has been issuing ensure that reservation in
a ‘basic feature of the India is also a signatory If 10 promotion posts are has already demanded detailed data in support all possible spheres is en-
Constitution’ viz. hu- of Universal Declaration open for posting of SC/ reservation for Muslims. for several years. The law- sured.
man dignity. Preamble of Human Rights, 1948 ST, posting of only 2 and India has been suffer- makers are not at all keen It is high time the na-
lays down, inter alia, that and several international leaving out 8 unfilled on ing from brain drain for to decriminalize these au- tion stands up as one man
the Constitution aims at covenants which ensure account of the cap is irra- a long time; that drain gust institutions because to oppose any reservation
“FRATERNITY assur- human dignity. Violation tional having no nexus to will be accelerated. So, as Section 8(4) of Repre- in any form; citizens must
ing the DIGNITY of the of such international com- the objective sought to be time passes, we are going sentation of People Act stop voting in favour of
Individual……….” Con- mitments is betrayal of achieved by reservation. to be a nation of 3rd rate 1951 protects them from candidates who demand
stitution contains several faith in solemn promises The executive cannot be administrators! Can the being disqualified – that, reservation of any kind
other provisions to en- made for good of human forced to keep 8 posts va- nation afford this – espe- indeed, is an incentive for – Lok Sabha Elections
sure dignity of man. It is race. What for human cant – it would certainly cially in the face of funda- lawless elements to con- in 2014 will give needed
plain enough that super- rights organizations are hamper good administra- mental duty under Article test elections. The result opportunity to build the
session of a meritorious established in all parts of tion. 51A of the Constitution to is that a very large num- nation on principles of
senior public servant by India? Today, reservation in ensure excellence in all ber of members would be Justice, Equality and Fra-
a non-meritorious junior The concept of 20% promotions is sought; walks of life? such whose wards cannot ternity with human Dig-
person, for no better rea- cap on reservation in pro- tomorrow reservation in Today, Parliament and qualify for public services nity.
son than that he belongs motions also is unconsti- Super Time Scale or in all Legislatures have sub- or make their mark while
to SC/ST class, cuts at tutional and constitutes Deputation posts will be stantial number of mem- in public service; reserva- (Author is a Supreme Court lawyer)
6. 6 entertainment DIVYA DELHI | New Delhi | December 24, 2012
Riya Sen
smooches
a girl!
T
rust Riya Sen to always
surprise you! After being
part of various controver-
sies, Riya was spotted kissing a
girl at a Mumbai nightclub last
week, reports Mid-Day.
The paper says that the iden-
tity of the young woman is not
known. Incidentally this is not
the first time that Miss Sen has
been caught on the wrong foot.
Earlier too her leaked MMS video
with Ashmit Patel had created
quite a controversy. A industry
insider says, `Recently her name
Dabang 2 popped up in regards to a rave
party that was busted. However,
the petite actress strongly denied
having links with the organiser
to cheer you of the party. There was buzz that
she was also involved in some
hanky-panky with author Salman
Rushdie.
S
alman Khan is
back in full form
once again with his
‘Chulbul Pandey’ avatar
in Dabang 2. Go watch
Dabangg 2 keeping the
fact in mind that it’s a
Salman Khan movie and
Charge sheet filed against Saif
M
make your Christmas
Holiday merrier. umbai Police
Director Arbaz Khan’s December 20
film is about Chulbul Pan- filed charge
dey who moves to Kanpur sheet against actor Saif
and straightaway gets into Ali Khan for allegedly as-
tough-conflict with crimi- saulting an NRI business-
nal cum politician Baccha man February this year.
Bhaiyya (Prakash Raj), Two of Saif’s friends —
who has two brother’s Bilal Amrohi and actress
named Chunni (Nikitin Amrita Arora’s husband
Dheer) and Gainda (Deep-
Shakeel Ladak — have
ak Dobriyal).
A volcano erupts and a also been named in the
battle takes place between charge sheet.
Chulbul Pandey and The incident occurred
Bachcha Bhaiyya when when Saif, Kareena
Chulbul Pandey kills Kapoor and some others
Gainda. were at the Wasabi Res-
It’s a treat to watch both taurant at the Taj Mahal
Salman Khan and Prakash Hotel.
Raj together once again Disturbed by their
after Wanted. Salman ruckus, NRI businessman
Khan as usual is the best. Iqbal Sharma requested
He takes off his shirt,
them to keep their voices
Flexes his muscles, Fights
the Villian and Flirts with down. However, this en-
Sonakshi, raged Saif, who allegedly
Sonakshi Sinha is punched Sharma, break-
charming and spicy as ing his nose. Ladak also
Rajjo. The songs in the allegedly hit Sharma’s
film are already a rage father-in-law Raman Pa-
with Kareena Kapoor’s tel. Later, Sharma lodged
‘Fevicol Se’ becoming an a complaint against Saif
all-time chartbuster. at Colaba police station.
Saif was was arrested
on Feb 22 with Amrohi
and Ladak for assaulting
NRI businessman Iqbal
Sharma. They were later
released on bail.
7. DIVYA DELHI | New Delhi | December 24, 2012 entertainment 7
Katie Holmes
dreams of
skating
K
atie Holmes has taken to hitting the lesser
known rinks in the Big Apple early and late,
so she can avoid the crowds and the skilled
skaters.
The former Dawson’s Creek star explains, “I like
to go ice-skating... I like Chelsea Piers. Rockefeller
Center (rink) scares me because there’s so many
people.
“I’m not good at all and I’m mad about it because
I’ll go and I’ll think, ‘Today, I’m gonna be really
good...’ but the last time I was skating I just kind of
held on to the side and I would have to, like, scoot
little kids outta the way, like, ‘Excuse me... I can’t let
go (or) I’ll fall’.
“So what started to happen is the people that work
at the rink that do all the fancy everything, they just
kept giving me their
cards... and I got
about 10, so I try
to go in secret
at very small
rinks.”
Shilpa Singh
loses Miss
Universe title
I
ndia’s 12-year-long dry run at the
Miss Universe continued with Shilpa
Singh losing out in the finals of the
2012 beauty pageant.
The 23-year-old Bihar-born girl
entered the top 16 of the Miss Universe
competition being held at Planet Holly-
wood casino on the Las Vegas Strip, but
failed to enter the top 10 slot.
8. 8 IN FOCUS
`
DIVYA DELHI | New Delhi | December 24, 2012
NEW DELHI: “While progress has been than $100 billion dollars which developing countries over the
There is no hue made in recent years, India con- could have been used to invest period 2001-2010, down from its
and cry in India tinues to lose a large amount of in education, healthcare, and high in 2004 when it accounted
over the issue wealth in illicit financial out- upgrade the nation’s infrastruc- for 86.1%. It remains the major
of black money flows,” said GFI Director Ray- ture,” he said. channel for the transfer of illicit
at a time when mond Baker. The new GFI study also esti- capital from all regions except
a Washington “Much focus has been paid mates between 2001 and 2010 MENA (Middle East and North
based research in the media on recovering the the developing world lost a total Africa), where it accounted for
By Hardeep and advocacy Indian black money that has of $5.86 trillion to illicit out- 37% of total outflows over the
Singh Bedi
$
o rg a n i z a t i o n already been lost,” he said sug- flows. decade.
has highlighted flow of illicit gesting policymakers should in- The $858.8 billion of il- The report further notes that
money from India. stead make curtailing the licit outflows lost to all “illicit transfers of the proceeds
Black
Global Financial Integrity ongoing outflow of developing coun- of corruption, bribery, theft, and
(GFI) released its latest report money priority tries in 2010 is kickbacks, accounting on aver-
“Illicit Financial Flows from De- number one. a significant age for 19.9% of illicit outflows
veloping Countries: 2001-2010” “$123 uptick from over the decade, are on the rise
on December 17 which said that as a percentage of total illicit fi-
Indian tax evaders managed to nancial outflows”.
send around black money worth GFI advocated that world
$123 billion out of country in a leaders increase the transparen-
decade. The report says that the cy in the international financial
Indian economy suffered $1.6 system as a means to curtail the
and
billion in illicit financial out- illicit flow of money.
White
flows in 2010. The term, illicit A Nov 2010 GFI report,
financial flows, pertains to “The Drivers and Dynam-
the cross-border movement ics of Illicit Financial
of money that is illegally Flows from India: 1948-
earned, transferred, or uti- 2008,” found that the In-
lized. dian economy lost $462
As per the report, India billion to illicit finan-
is ranked as the decade’s cial outflows from 1948
8th largest victim of illicit through 2008. Howev-
capital flight behind China, er, the UPA government
Mexico, Malaysia, Saudi thinks that estimates of
Arabia, Russia, the Philip- GFI and for that matter In-
pines, and Nigeria. The report ternational Monetary Fund
exhorts Indian policymakers to (IMF) are incomplete.
make curbing the ongoing out- A White Paper released by
flow of black money their prior- A new report exhorts Indian policymakers to make the Finance Minister Pranab
ity number one. curbing the ongoing outflow of black money their Mukherjee in May 2012 coun-
The report found that all devel- ters that “…although the esti-
oping and emerging economies billion is a priority number one 2009, which mates of illicit outflows outside
suffered $858.8 billion in illicit massive amount of saw developing na- India made by the IMF and GFI
outflows in 2010, just below the money for the Indian economy Frei- tions lose $776.0 billion. gives useful insights, they are
all-time high of $871.3 billion to lose,” said Dev Kar, GFI lead tas. Trade mispricing was found to incomplete and further studies
set in 2008-the year preceding economist and co-author of the “It has very real consequences account for an average of 80.1% are required to get a correct es-
the global financial crisis. report with GFI economist Sarah for Indian citizens. This is more of cumulative illicit flows from timate”.
Transparency Tips
Where is Govt admits FDI is mostly black money • Addressing the problems
Swamy? NEW DELHI: Swamy Ramdev, another cru- small economies cannot be the sources of such posed by anonymous
sader against black money, also didn’t react af- huge investments and it is apparent that the in- shell companies, foun-
ter the GFI report was released. However, a day vestments are routed through these jurisdictions dations, and trusts by
before the GFI report was released, Ramdev in for avoidance of taxes and/or for concealing the requiring confirmation
Lucknow bashed the Congress over black mon- identities from the revenue authorities of the ulti- of beneficial owner-
ey and urged people to defeat Congress in 2014 mate investors, many of whom could actually be ship in all banking and
elections. Ramdev also claimed that the funds Indian residents, who have invested in their own securities accounts, and
that would come in by way of Foreign Direct companies, though a process known as round demanding that informa-
Investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail was just tripping,” says the White Paper. tion on the true, human
a fraction of the black money stashed abroad. It further says that “investment in the Indian owner of all corporations,
NEW DELHI: Janata Party Ramdev since long has maintained that FDI is Stock Market through PNs is another way in trusts, and foundations
leader Subramanian Swamy, a tool to convert black money into white. which the black money generated by Indians is be disclosed upon forma-
one of the torchbearers against In an interview to The Times of India on De- re-invested in India”. tion and be available to
black money, surprisingly didn’t cember 16, Ramdev once again maintained that It is notable that the paper was prepared by law enforcement;
react on the latest GFI report. “FDI will only help tax evaders launder money the government after pressure was mounted on • Reforming customs and
The report is much needed back to the country by round-tripping, giving it it from various quarters so its main focus was to trade protocols to detect
ammunition to lambast UPA a legitimacy cover of FDI”. cut the amount of stashed black money abroad and curtail trade mispric-
government but Swamy didn’t In fact, this charge also has been accepted by and treat the issue as mere tax evasion. But, the ing;
use it. Instead, he was busy the UPA government. Supreme Court on January 19, 2011 had de- • Requiring the country-
cursing UPA, Sonia Gandhi, The May 2012 White Paper on Black Mon- scribed black money stashed away abroad by
Rahul Gandhi, Prime Minister by-country reporting of
ey admits that black money is coming to India Indians as “pure and simple theft of national sales, profits and taxes
Dr Manmohan Singh, Elec- through FDI and Promissory Notes. money” and questioned the Centre’s approach
tronic Voting Machines, Indian paid by multinational
In section “Has Money Transferred abroad to tackling this menace and retrieving the huge
Express Editor Shekhar Gupta corporations;
illicitly Returned?” the paper says that FDI sta- amount kept in foreign banks.
etcetera on Twitter. Is it because • Requiring the automatic
tistics show that black money stashed abroad by After issuing the White Paper seven months
of Twitter he didn’t notice GFI cross-border exchange
Indians is coming back to India via Mauritius back, there is no action from the government.
report, Or, is he really not seri- of tax information on
and Singapore routes. For example, the paper said that all financial
ous about the issue and talks “As per data released by the Department of In- offences should be tried through fast-track personal and business
about it for mere publicity. dustrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), from April special courts. The Ministry of Law may have accounts;
The last time he spoke about 2000 to March 2011 F D I from Mauri- to take up this issue on priority and make ar- • Harmonizing predicate
black money was probably in tius is 41.80 per cent of the entire rangements for setting u p fast-track courts offenses under anti-
November this year when he FDI received by India…that all over the country in a time-bound money laundering laws
had accused Aam Aadmi Party the two topmost sources manner. But, has it been across all Financial Ac-
(AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal of the cumulative done? tion Task Force cooper-
of being a pessimist over black inflows from April Therefore it ating countries; and
money. Kejriwal had alleged that 2000 to March can be said that • Ensuring that the
Mukesh Ambani, Anil Ambani, 2011 are Mauritius India lacks po- anti-money laundering
Burmans of Dabur, Congress MP (41.80 per cent) and litical will to regulations already on
Annu Tandon etcetera had depos- Singapore (9.17 per deal with the the books are strongly
ited black money in multinational cent). Mauritius and black money enforced.
HSBC Bank’s Geneva Branch. Singapore with their menace.
