Delhi gangrape: Raj CM not to celebrate New Year

Jaipur, Dec 30:

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has decided stay away from New Year celebrations following the gangrape of a 23-year-old paramedic student and her death.

"Delhi's incident has hurt people of the country. It is a blot on humanity. We should all take resolution that we will be committed for the protection of women's dignity and their safety and security," a statement quoting Gehlot said on Sunday.

He also appealed to people to welcome new year with simplicity.

Meanwhile, many people in Punjab and Haryana including both the state governments have decided to cancel or tone down their party plans for New Year. Several prime hotels in the region and governments of both Punjab and Haryana have cancelled their programmes to be held to mark New Year celebrations, officials said here.

While Haryana government cancelled its lunch on the eve of New Year, several hotels and clubs in the region, including Press club of Chandigarh, too decided not to host any party. Several business houses here have also decided to cancel events on New Year's eve, officials said. Meanwhile, people across Chandigarh observed prayers for the victim. Various political outfits, cutting across party-lines, also joined in the mourning and demanded that the guilty be given the severest of the punishments.

PTI