India restrains New Year fests; hopes for a crime free 2013

New Delhi, Jan 1: India welcomed 2013 on a sombre note. Nation is mourning the death of 23-year-old gang-rape victim, who died in a Singapore hospital recently. The brutality of the crime woke up the entire nation from its slumber. Along with national capital, the whole country is protesting to demand justice for the gang-rape victim.

Moreover, the country wants that women of India live in a safer and freer environment. Probably, the enormity of problem lying in front of us restricted many to welcome 2013 in a grand manner. The armed forces cancelled New Year's Eve parties on Monday, Dec 31 reflecting the sombre mood across India.

High-end clubs, politicians and ordinary Indians also called off celebrations as a mark of respect for the 23-year-old woman who died on Saturday two weeks after her brutal assault. The army, navy and air force were ordered to cancel any parties, said a defence ministry spokesman.

"There is no New Year celebration ... There will be a candlelight tribute at 6 pm. After that the club will be closed," said Rajiv Hora, secretary of the Delhi Golf Club in the centre of the capital. The Press Club of India and the ruling Congress Party also cancelled parties as did the Gymkhana Club, a private members' organisation known for its lavish end-of-year celebrations.

The nation is in an introspective mood. They don't want to celebrate anything. "It is no time to celebrate. We should introspect now. We need to make this country a place where women are treated at par with men," said Sudip Ghosh, a doctor based in New Delhi.

Echoing Ghosh, Kalpana Prasad, a teacher in a Chennai college said that no sensible person can celebrate at a time when the country is mourning. "Let us take a vow that 2013 will be safer for women of India," added Prasad.

OneIndia News