Delhi gangrape death: Def ministry, armed forces not to hold new year parties

Against the backdrop of the death of the Delhi gangrape victim, the defence ministry and the three armed forces have decided against holding new year parties.

Against the backdrop of the death of the Delhi gangrape victim, the defence ministry and the three armed forces have decided against holding new year parties.

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Defence ministry and the three services have decided against organising their new year bashes.

As usual, defence minister AK Antony will have a quiet new year this time, defence ministry officials said in New Delhi.

In view of the gangrape incident, Antony had not even accepted birthday wishes from anyone on December 28.

The Army has issued advisories to all formations that they should not organise new year parties, Army officials said.

Army chief Gen Bikram Singh and his wife Bubbles Singh will visit patients in Army Research and Referral Hospital in the capital and Base Hospital on the first day of the new year and distribute sweets.

The Navy and the Indian Air Force have also told their formations not to organise any bashes this year in view of the demise of the gangrape victim.

Amid outpouring of anger and grief in the country, the body of the 23-year-old victim was flown from New Delhi from Singapore early Sunday morning and cremated within hours.