Delhi gang-rape: New Year plans toned down

Bookings in five-star hotels in Delhi, Mumbai reportedly down by at least 15-20%

Some hotels, clubs and business houses today dropped or toned down New Year's eve party plans, as the death of the Delhi gang-rape victim cast a shadow on revelry.

Following the death of the victim, bookings in five-star hotels in Delhi and Mumbai are reportedly down by at least 15-20% because the sentiment has been impacted by the horrific incident.

The Press Club of India (PCI) cancelled its New Year's eve celebrations in New Delhi while a Congress MLC in Maharashtra Charan Singh Sapra appealed to people to stay away from merrymaking.

Following nationwide grief and anger over the death of the 23-year-old girl, the Punjab and Haryana governments have also cancelled their planned programmes to usher in the New Year, officials said in Chandigarh.

While Haryana government cancelled its lunch tomorrow, several hotels and clubs in the region, including Press Club of Chandigarh, too decided not to host any party.

Several business houses in Chandigarh have also decided to cancel or tone down events, the officials said.

"We are not going to celebrate New Year's eve in the club as a mark of respect to the brave girl who died after battling for life for 13 days," Anil Anand, Secretary General PCI, said in New Delhi, condoling the death of the physiotherapy student.

The club will remain open but there will be no celebrations, he said.

In Mumbai, Sapra said people should offer prayers in memory of the gang-raped girl who died yesterday after battling for life for nearly two weeks.

"This [New Year eve] may be marked as a mourning period and a tribute to the brave-heart," Sapra said in a statement issued in Mumbai.

He said New Year may be ushered by organising prayer meetings in various religious places so that the victim's soul rests in peace.