Sunday, December 29, 2013

Sex education in schools spoils minds of children: Andhra Pradesh High Court judge

 Introduction of sex education in high schools has "spoiled" the minds of children of impressionable age, a  judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court said today.

"Introduction of sex education in high schools (adult education programme), launched in 2005-06, has only spoiled the minds of children in the impressionable age. Parents have a responsibility to bring children back on the right track," Justice L Narasimha Reddy said.

Justice Reddy, also the Chairman of the High Court Legal Services Committee, further said the collapse of the joint family system has created a sense of insecurity for children.

He was speaking at a sensitisation programme for stake-holders on the "Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012".

Speaking at the function, Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court, Kalyan Jyoti Sengupta, observed that though the Act was passed over a year ago, a lot needed to be done when it came to its implementation.

"The last 20 years have witnessed growing incidents of sexual offences against children," Justice Sengupta said and emphasised the role media and police played in checking this.

"The incidents of child sexual abuse and exploitation which are reported at schools, rural areas, hospitals and other public places can be prevented through immediate action," he said, while stressing the need for the media to report such incidents only after ascertaining all facts.

Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police, B Prasada Rao said the emergence of nuclear families had created a situation wherein parents were unable to give quality time and parental care to children.

"There (parents) responsibility is handed over to maids or wardens," he said.

TV, cinema, internet and mobile phones were proving to be a distraction and were also adversely affecting the behaviour of children, Mr Rao said.

"Police have to be courteous with child victims of sexual abuse and they should not provoke them with abusive behaviour as the victims of sexual abuse are in a state of shock, trauma and fear," he added.

Sacked SP leader Kamal Farooqui's decision to join AAP today

New Delhi: Expelled Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Kamal Farooqui is likely to announce his decision on joining the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday. 

The former SP leader had met Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday and said that “everybody” is keen to join AAP. 

Farooqui was sacked by the SP as its secretary after he made a controversial comment that Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal was arrested because he was a Muslim.

AAP leader Sanjay Singh confirmed the recent development and said that discussions related to “Farooqui joining the party is on". 

Apart from Farooqui, Adarsh Shastri, the grandson of former Indian Prime Minister late Lal Bahadur Shastri, has also decided to quit his a crore-plus plum salaried job at Apple to join the AAP.

Drawing a salary of Rs 1 crore a year, 40 years old Adarsh decided to join the AAP despite his father, Anil Shastri, being a Congress leader. 

By Newton's 3rd Law, Narendra Modi's reaction 11 years too late: Kapil Sibal

NEW DELHI: Union minister Kapil Sibal on Sunday alleged that the pain reflected in Narendra Modi's blog over the 2002 Gujarat riots was aimed at electoral gains during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. 

Sibal claimed that it was "too late" for BJP's prime ministerial candidate to say that Gujarat riots had shaken him to the core, arguing that the "riots baggage" will remain with Modi. 

"Modi's riots baggage will remain. It is too late for him to express that he was shaken to the core. Had that been so, the core would have reacted in time, not a belated reaction just before the Lok Sabha elections," Sibal said. 

In his blog, Sibal said 11 years was too late to express pain and agony for BJP's PM candidate. 

"This pain and agony reflected in Modi's blog is for an audience whose sympathy will be vital in May 2014," Sibal said. 

The minister argued that pain was heartfelt, spontaneous and an emotion that is expressed without calculation. 

"Pain can never be a belated reaction after 11 years of silence. And a person who suffers in silence cannot remain silent for 11 years. While I do not want to be cynical in my comments, I do not want to be dishonest either. This act of liberation does not connect us with the real Modi," he said. 

Sibal was responding to Modi's blog post in which BJP leader had said he was "shaken to the core" and the court verdict made him feel "liberated and at peace". He termed the post-Godhra riots as a "crippling blow to an already shattered and hurting Gujarat". 

Referring to Modi's blog, Sibal said that he wondered which sisters and brothers the Gujarat CMwas addressing when he talked about his personal pain. 

"The sisters and brothers of those who lost their lives needed the healing touch and, that too, immediately after the riots, Sibal said, adding that "11 years is too late". 

The minister said that it is the "harrowing ordeal" of the victims, and not that of Modi, that needs attention. The wisdom of the scriptures should have dawned on Modi in 2002, not in 2013, he further stated. 

"Those who plan in solitude never suffer pain in solitude. Those who believe in Newton's Laws of Motion do not wait for 11 years to react," Sibal said. 

He also questioned Gujarat government's stance in cases related to the 2002 riots. 

"Where was the pain when the state defended those who now stand convicted, when affidavits about their innocence were filed in courts and lawyers were paid for defending the indefensible? 

"Where was the pain when the state did not reach out to those crying for help and those seeking justice and when the state was collaborating with the accused to settle their affidavits, while being prosecuted in court?"