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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000284 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS, DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR EAGR IN
SUBJECT: DELHI DIARY, FEBRUARY 3-13, 2009 
 
REF: CHENNAI 0025 
 
¶1.  (U)  Below is a compilation of political highlights from 
Embassy New Delhi for February 2-13, 2009, that did not 
feature in our other reporting: 
 
--  Valentine's Day Violence? 
--  Six-year-old's Beating Caught on Tape in UP 
--  Vajpayee Hospitalized, Making Steady Progress 
 
Valentine's Day Violence? 
--- 
 
¶2.  (U)  The GOI has asked states to remain vigilant and keep 
a watch over individuals who may attempt to cause disorder on 
Valentine's Day.  The Home Ministry's Minister of State 
Sripakash Jaiswal told reporters on February 6, "The states 
will be asked to keep a special watch on the law and order 
situation on Valentine's Day."  However, the Home Ministry 
has decided against issuing formal advisories to the states. 
The Center's concerns come in the wake of attacks by the 
self-styled, right-wing Hindu outfit the Sri Ram Sene 
(Reftel) at a Mangalore pub on January 24, and its leader 
Pramod Muthalik's threats to "marry off" couples who are seen 
dating in public on February 14.  The Bajrang Dal, another 
Hindu extremist organization, has also threatened to disrupt 
Valentine's Day celebrations in cities throughout India.  The 
Sri Ram Sene has no formal connection to the Bharatiya Janata 
Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sena (RSS), both of 
which have condemned the Sri Ram Sene activities.  However, 
some expelled RSS members are leading the Sene. 
 
¶3.  (U)  The Hindustan Times reported that a group of Indian 
friends on Facebook have created "The Consortium of 
Pub-going, Loose and Forward Women" in the wake of the 
Mangalore pub attacks.  With over 3,000 members, the group 
has mushroomed into a full-fledged campaign to send Sri Ram 
Sene members pink "chaddis" (underwear) on Valentine's Day. 
According to the Times, the women decided to hit back at the 
right-wing groups who were capitalizing on fear.  The 
Consortium has created a stir, and people from all parts of 
the country are enthusiastically joining the campaign as 
their way of showing contempt for the Sri Ram Sena's brutish 
behavior.  The group plans to display the collected chaddis 
at a press conference in Bengaluru on February 13. 
 
¶4.  (SBU)  In past years, members of the Shiv Sena, a Hindu 
nationalist party in Maharashtra, have also vandalized 
greeting card stores selling Valentine's Day cards and cafes 
where young people, especially couples, congregate.  Although 
the holiday is not well-known by India's overwhelming masses, 
India's urban and economically well-off youth increasingly 
celebrate this American holiday.  As India grows economically 
and integrates into the global village, such tensions between 
modernity and those who believe they are protecting 
traditional Indian values will continue to occur. 
Furthermore, such tensions are likely to be exploited by 
political parties in the run-up to Indian national elections. 
 
Six-year-old's Beating Caught on Tape in UP 
--- 
 
¶5.  (U)  On Feburary 3, Komal, a six-year-old Dalit from the 
Etawah district of Uttar Pradesh was beaten by local police 
for stealing 280 rupees (USD 5.80).  The incident garnered 
widespread media attention, as news channels broadcasted 
video of the beating by Senior Sub-Inspector Shyamlal Yadav. 
Six other policemen stood by as mute spectators.  After 
Komal's mother claimed her daughter's innocence, the police 
admitted the charges against Komal were baseless and later 
withdrawn.  In the wake of public criticism, six policemen 
wee charged for torture of a minor under the Scheduled 
Caste/Scheduled Tribes Act.  An inquiry into the incident has 
been ordered and a case against Yadav has been filed. 
 
NEW DELHI 00000284  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
¶6.  (SBU)  The National Commission for Protection of Child 
Rights (NCPCR) told national press that this incident 
represents "the crying need for a special and separate police 
station unit for each district specially trained for handling 
children."  Shanta Sinha, NCPCR Chairperson told us that 
these officers should be "prosecuted in criminal court," 
which would serve as an example to society to ensure that 
such incidents do not occur in the future.  Renuka Chaudhury, 
Union Minister for Women and Child Development, condemned the 
incident and questioned the role of UP Chief Minister 
Mayawati, herself a Dali, particularly her record on 
maintaining law and order, and protecting the rights of 
women, children and Dalits. 
 
 
Vajpayee Hospitalized, Making Steady Progress 
--- 
 
¶7.  (U)  Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, 85, is 
making steady progress after contracting a lower respiratory 
tract infection over one week ago.  He was admitted to the 
All India Institute of Media Sciences (AIIMS) ICU on February 
3, and was later found to be suffering from pneumonia.  The 
BJP national executive, which held a meeting in Nagpur last 
week, expressed concern for the party veteran and wished for 
his fast recovery.  Leaders from across the political 
spectrum sent their good wishes, with some like Sonia Gandhi 
and L.K. Advani visiting the hospital to inquire about his 
health.  The wide media interest in and popular concern about 
Vajpayee's health reflects the respect with which he is 
widely regarded by Indians across caste and class lines. 
MULFORD