Surgical Strike Day to enhance national prestige: Javadekar
New Delhi, Sep 21 : Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Friday criticised Congress leader Kapil Sibal for terming the observance of Surgical Strike Day as a "jumla" (gimmick), contending that the exercise will enhance national prestige.
"This is only meant to increase the prestige of the Army. There is no politics in it. I must denounce the Congress charge that we are politicising the surgical strike. No, we are not doing that," the Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister said.
"We are telling the students how the armed forces defend our country, how they conducted the surgical strike on September 29, 2016, and how they also perform civilian duties whenever necessary," Javadekar said.
"This is to inspire students by making them aware of the patriotism of the armed forces... There's no compulsion to celebrate it," Javadekar told reporters.
Congress leader and former HRD Minister Kapil Sibal earlier took a jibe at the decision to celebrate September 29 as the 'Surgical Strike Day,' commemorating the 2016 strike carried out by the Indian Army inside Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
"UGC directs VCs of all universities to celebrate September 29 as Surgical Strike Day. Is this meant to educate or to serve BJP's political ends? Will UGC dare celebrate November 8 as Surgical Strike Day depriving the poor of their livelihood? This another jumla!," Sibal tweeted on Friday.
The decision to celebrate the day was announced on Thursday when the University Grants Commission (UGC) in a letter to all Vice Chancellors of the universities had asked them to observe the day in their institutions through special parades by National Cadet Corps, and pledge of support by students to the armed forces by writing letters and cards.
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Pune journalist booked on voyeurism charge for filming woman at lodge
Pune (PTI): Police have registered a case of voyeurism against a television journalist in Pune for allegedly filming a woman in an objectionable position without her consent at a lodge in the city, officials said on Saturday.
The FIR was filed against Rohan Kadam under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 77 (voyeurism) and 3(5) (common intention) at the Vishrambaug police station here, while the complaint mentions that he was accompanied by three other journalists, they said.
The incident took place on April 8 when the accused had checked into a room at a lodge in Budhwar Peth, which houses a red light area.
In her complaint, the woman said that while she was wearing her saree after establishing "physical relations with a customer", she realised that an unidentified person was filming her through a net above the partition wall between the rooms.
She opened the door of her room and knocked on the adjacent door, asking the person to come out, the FIR said.
"The woman sought clarification from Kadam, who gave vague answers and refused to show his phone. When the lodge operator, the woman and others questioned him, he claimed that they were a group of four journalists conducting a sting operation," it said.
Police said Kadam was assaulted when he allegedly tried to flee from the spot.
The woman later approached the Vishrambaug police station and lodged a complaint.
"We have registered a case in this regard and further probe is on," a police officer said.
Meanwhile, the Pune Union of Working Journalists (PUWJ) has written a letter to city Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, seeking action against the journalist for the alleged act.
In the letter, the journalists' body said there were murmurs that some journalists and others were trying to ensure that no offence is registered in the matter.
"We do not agree with this and clarify that PUWJ will not come in the way of the probe," the letter stated.
