New Delhi: A meeting of some Congress leaders yesterday took a lot of people by surprise when Priyanka Gandhi-Vadra, sister of party vice-president Rahul Gandhi, also turned up. A party leader would only say that the meeting was held to discuss the tour programmes of Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Sonia Gandhi. Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said that Priyanka Gandhi is a member of an important political family. “Even if she is not seen taking part in active politics, she is an active member of the Indian National Congress,” he said. “She has her own views on political issues and talks to party workers from time to time. If on some issue she has talked to some leaders, what is there to be surprised about? What is new in this?” A Congress leader said that Priyanka joined the meeting towards the end. The meeting was held at Rahul Gandhi’s 12 Tughlak Lane residence. It was not clear if Rahul Gandhi was present at the meeting. Priyanka Vadra has been looking after the constituencies of her brother Rahul Gandhi (Amethi) and her mother Sonia Gandhi (Rae Bareli).
Adolescent health plan launched
New Delhi: The government yesterday launched a comprehensive programme to improve the health of adolescents, who comprise over 21 percent of the over 121 crore population, in the country with a focus on community-based interventions. The Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (National Adolescent Health Programme), launched by union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad here, will comprehensively address the health needs of the 243 million adolescents. He said so far efforts have been confined to sexual and reproductive health of adolescents that too at select government facilities. The programme will bring in several new dimensions, like mental health, nutrition, substance misuse, gender based violence and non-communicable diseases, he said.
Policeman killed in Kashmir gunfight
Srinagar: A police officer was killed and three policemen were injured in a fierce gunbattle between security forces and guerrillas in Kashmir’s Baramulla district yesterday, an official said. A senior police officer said that an assistant sub-inspector, who was injured along with three policemen, in Chankhan locality of Sopore, 55km from here, succumbed to his injuries. Reports from Sopore said firing had stopped in the area in the morning following information about the presence of a group of guerrillas.
‘Rape victim’ gives man clean chit
New Delhi: A Delhi court has acquitted a man of rape charges after observing that the victim had admitted that they had a consensual physical relationship. Additional Sessions Judge Virender Bhat held Kamaljeet Singh innocent of the accusation made in a police complaint but which the young woman withdrew in her statement to a magistrate. The court order came after it went through the statement of the victim made to the magistrate where she gave a clean chit to accused, a teacher. The victim said she knew the accused for two years and was in love with him. She told the magistrate that her allegation made in the First Information Report against the accused was because she feared her own mother. The prosecution alleged that Singh molested the victim on July 7, 2012. The victim’s U-turn before the magistrate came 16 days later.
IANS
