Shah unveils new insignia for CRPF's VIP security wing

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday unveiled a new insignia for the CRPF's VIP security wing that protects 59 high-risk dignitaries, including members of the Gandhi family and a host of Union ministers. https://www.dailypioneer.com/

The logo -- with a "Garuda", sword and shield -- will give a distinct identity to the unit, Shah said.
The home minister unveiled the logo during an event, where he laid the foundation for raising a new headquarters building for the CRPF.

The VIP security wing of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was raised in 2014 and has four battalions, comprising about 4,000 personnel.

The insignia will bear the motto of the force -- "Always, Aware, Alert".

Of the 59 protectees under this unit, 15 are under the top category of "Z+", 21 under the "Z" category and the remaining 23 under various other categories.

These VIPs include Shah himself, five former SPG protectees recently transferred to it -- former prime minister Manmohan Singh, his wife Gursharan Kaur, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, her children Rahul and Priyanka -- besides Union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Ravishankar Prasad, businessman and RIL chairman Mukesh Ambani and his wife Neeta among others.

"This is a historic day for the unit that serves with utmost dedication and discipline. VIP security is now a core task for us. The insignia will now be worn by all commandos under this unit," CRPF Inspector General (Intelligence) Pradeep Kumar Singh said.

Singh, who has earlier served in the SPG, is also the head of the VIP security wing and has raised the unit after pooling in some of the best commanders and commandos of the force.

The elite wing of the CRPF has bases across the country and is armed with smart assault weapons like MP-5 rifles and Glock pistols, apart from encrypted communication gadgets and armoured protection devices.

Source: https://www.dailypioneer.com/2019/top-stories/shah-unveils-new-insignia-for-crpf-s-vip-security-wing.html

CAA not against Muslim community of India - Gadkari

Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Sunday asserted that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is not against the Muslim community in India.

He said by bringing the new law, the NDA government was not doing any injustice to Muslims in the country.

Gadkari also accused the Congress of spreading "misinformation" over the issue for 'vote bank politics'.

He was addressing a rally here in support of the NDA government's decision to enact a new law, which seeks to provide citizenship to persecuted minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

The rally was organised a local body and supported by the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

"The decision taken by the government to give justice to religious minorities from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh is not against the Muslim community of India. We are not talking about sending Muslims out of the country," Gadkari said.

He said the government's only concern was foreign intruders living in the country.

The minister said Muslims should understand that the Congress cannot help in the development of the community.

"What has it (Congress) done for you? I request the Muslim community of the country to understand the conspiracy. Your development can be done only by the BJP and not the Congress," the minister said.

"You used to ride cycle-rickshaw, we gave you e- rickshaw and helped you stand. The Congress considers you as a vote machine so that it can rule afterwards. Don't fall for this misinformation," he said.

"We all are one, our legacy is one. You go to masjid, we don't oppose it. We all will live together and work according to the Constitution framed by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. This is what we have been saying, not anything new," Gadkari said.

Source: https://www.dailypioneer.com/2019/top-stories/caa-not-against-muslim-community-of-india--gadkari.html

President Kovind pays tribute to victims of 2001 Parliament attack

President Ram Nath Kovind and Union ministers on Friday paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the 2001 Parliament attack.

Eighteen years ago on December 13, terrorists of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) attacked the Parliament complex and opened fire killing nine people.

The victims included five Delhi Police personnel, a woman Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) trooper, two Parliament watch and ward staff and a gardener. A journalist who was injured died later.

All five terrorists were shot dead.

President Kovind, in a tweet said, "A grateful nation salutes the exemplary valour and courage of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives while defending the Parliament from terrorists on this day in 2001. We remain firm in our resolve to defeat and eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations."

Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad tweeted, "Today let us remember the martyrs who sacrificed their lives defending and protecting the Parliament of India from the terrorist attack."
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri saluted the bravehearts who lost their lives in the attack.

"I join a grateful nation in paying tribute to the bravehearts who sacrificed their lives to valiantly defend our parliament against a dastardly terror attack on this day in 2001. New India will forever remain indebted to them for their selflessness, fortitude & courage," he tweeted.

In a message on Twitter, the Trinamool Congress paid tribute to the victims of the Parliament attack, saying, "Violence in any form is condemnable. Let us all strive for peace."

"Today is the 18th anniversary of the attack on Indian Parliament. Solemnly remembering those who lost their lives on that day. My sympathies with those who were injured in the line of duty. Terrorism and violence have no place in a civilised society," West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee tweeted.

Source: https://www.dailypioneer.com/2019/top-stories/president-kovind-pays-tribute-to-victims-of-2001-parliament-attack.html

DCW chief sits on indefinite hunger strike against recent incidents of rape

Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal sat on an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday against the recent incidents of rape.

Earlier she had alleged that police had not given her permission to hold the protest.

Maliwal also wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding that rapists be hanged within six months of their conviction and cited the recent incidents of the gangrape and murder of a Hyderabad veterinarian and the brutal rape of a six-year-old girl in Rajasthan.

"My demand to PM is that we want capital punishment for the rapists of minor and major victims.
The accused in the Hyderabad case must be hanged. Last year, I sat on protest and within 10 days, the government made a law that the rapists of minors will get capital punishment within six months, but this did not happen.

"Now, I want PM to implement the law. I am demanding strict and swift punishment. We need to enhance the infrastructure for a better implementation of the law. In Delhi, there is a shortage of 66,000 police officers and 45 fast track courts," Maliwal said at Jantar Mantar.

Responding to her allegations, the Delhi police said that they have not rejected the demand of holding the protest.

Seeking to clarify the matter, police said a letter was sent to the DCW for obtaining details of the protest, mode of transport, microphone arrangements and the number of protesters who were supposed to take part in it, with a copy of an undertaking to be filled according to the Supreme Court guidelines.

The details regarding it is awaited, they said.

Source: https://www.dailypioneer.com/2019/top-stories/dcw-chief-writes-to-modi--demands-rapists-be-hanged-within-6-months-of-conviction.html

Gambhir finally has stand named after him at Kotla, questions Rajat Sharma for delay

Gautam Gambhir finally saw a stand named after him at the Feroz Shah Kotla here on Tuesday but the felicitation became more of a sideshow with the former India opener lamenting the current mess in DDCA and even questioning president Rajat Sharma.

Administrative chaos has come back to Delhi cricket again with president Sharma pitted against the apex council. The senior journalist was appointed president in July last year, when elections were held for the first time since 2013. He resigned earlier this month but the Ombudsman put his resignation on hold and asked him to continue.

Gambhir, who played all his domestic cricket for Delhi and was also captain for a long time, rued the state of affairs in DDCA. He also questioned president Sharma for the delay in naming the North Stand after him.

"I think the president can answer this question better because earlier I was told that stand will be unveiled during the India versus Australia game (in March), then they said it will be the first game of the IPL, they they said the hot weather (local tournament). This was what was told to me in the last six to seven months," Gambhir said in response to a PTI query.

Sharma was not present on the occasion.

Current India captain Virat Kohli also has a stand named after him at the Kotla, alongside greats such as Mohinder Amarnath and Bishan Singh Bedi. Virender Sehwag has a gate named after him and so has former India women's team captain Anjum Chopra.

In a no-holds-barred interaction, Gambhir, who was a DDCA director until last month, slammed the authorities for infighting and not putting their energy into betterment of Delhi cricket.

He also questioned the credentials of the senior selection panel comprising Atul Wassan, Vineet Jain and Anil Bhardwaj. He claimed that Jain never played for Delhi and should have never been appointed as selector.

"One thing probably which is absolutely not acceptable is having a selector who has not played for Delhi. Delhi is like Mumbai and Karnataka, we are multiple time Ranji Trophy champions, so you don't expect to have a selector who has never played for Delhi. In fact, you have got a junior selector also who has never played for Delhi.

"I had raised that point when I was DDCA director but it did not change anything and hurt me a lot. There are many ex-Delhi players who can contribute so much to the game," said Gambhir who played 58 Tests, 147 ODIs and 37 T20 Internationals for India.

The 38-year-old claimed that none of his suggestions were taken seriously when he was part of the apex council.

"We had (court-appointed) administrators running the game for so long and then we had elections and again it is a divided house now. At the end of the day, young cricketers suffer most from all this.

"You can't work with your ego, it can spoil careers of young and talented players. People in DDCA will come and go but the cricketers should not suffer. All the elected members should work as a team."

On his suggestions not being taken seriously, Gambhir added: "My input was nothing for one year (as DDCA director). I had good suggestions like we should have scholarship for 100 cricketers who don't have jobs. We don't want them going to Railways or Services.

"I suggested an increase in daily allowance,  indoor nets at Kotla, we need them because of the extreme climate in Delhi. Nothing happened there also.

"The most basic suggestion was change the pitch square but no action was taken on that also. Last IPL Delhi pitch was being criticised for being slow. Now another IPL is approaching and nothing has happened."

Source: https://www.dailypioneer.com/2019/trending-news/gambhir-finally-has-stand-named-after-him-at-kotla--questions-rajat-sharma-for-delay.html