Union Minister of Home Affairs
says, that why the public is now agitating and holding demonstrations, when
most of their demands have already been met? Necessary action is being taken.
Effective steps are being taken to amend laws.
Now, what justice they want? We
would like to ask honorable Home Minister as to what justice he has provided?
Whole country is demanding death sentence for the rapists. Have you clearly
stated once that arrangements are being made to award death sentence to the
rapists and persons guilty of inhuman treatment? No! But, you are trying to
stifle the issue and silencing the voice of the masses. It is very sad that due
to mishandling by your Ministry, a brave police constable had to give his life.
A 47 year old Constable Subhash Chandra Tomar, who was seriously injured during
the violent demonstrations against the gang rape on Sunday at India Gate, has
expired. A very important evidence of mishandling the situation by the Government,
is the dispute between Delhi Government and Delhi Police. The row between Delhi
Police and Sheila Government over the gang rape of a student has taken a
serious turn. Sheila Dixit has accused Delhi Police of applying pressure on the
SDM, who had gone to record the statement of the victim, whereas Delhi Police
Commissioner has alleged that the SDM has also been created problems in the
past also. This matter is related to the SDM Usha Chaturvedi, who had recorded
the statement of the victim. The SDM has accused Delhi Police of misbehavior by
putting pressure on her for recording the statement of the victim according to
the convenience of the Delhi Police. A lot of time was also wasted over the
issue of video graphing the whole proceedings, because the Police was not allowing
it. It would not, in any case, help the victim student in getting justice by debating
over as to who is right Delhi Police, Delhi Government or Union Ministry of
Home Affairs. The main issue today is same as it was on Sunday. When and what
sentence will be given to the culprits? It is very sad that the Government has been
treating all the agitations in the same way, as if this agitation has been instigated
by Opposition’s vested interests and carried on by hired goons. The Government
has treated the youth gathered at India Gate and other places, in the same way
as it treats the hired agitators. In fact, the Government should have started
dialogue with agitated students and tried to pacify them, but it was too confused
to understand the mode to establish dialogue with the agitators. We feel that
the Government failed to understand the nature of the agitation. The Government
is thinking that this whole agitation is confined to a gang rape in Delhi, whereas this is
live volcano that has been made to burst with this matter.
Anger has been simmering among
people over the issue of rape. Women in the country, whether they are rich or
poor, feel unsafe. This incident of Delhi
has been turned into a symbol of the anger of masses. The Government wants to
solve this problem by just suspending 7-8 Police personnel. The important
question, here is, whether the Delhi Police is responsible for all that is
happening in the country? Are Union Government, Delhi Government, State
Governments, bureaucracy and judiciary not responsible for this state of
affairs? Why a large section of Delhi Police responsible for the safety of
common man, is deployed for the security of leaders and influential persons?
Why the Police has been deployed for the security of those who themselves are
tainted and whose background is criminal? At present, even Forensic
Laboratories are short of man power, which leads to delay in criminal
investigation. The issue of Fast
Track Court has long been debated, but why any
strong decision has not been taken in this regard so far? Judges are also not
being appointed in accordance with the inflow of cases. All these are having negative
impact on the law and order situation. Not the Police Commissioner, but
political leaders and bureaucracy
are responsible for all these deficiencies. Will the Government come to senses
when the poor girl is declared dead? She had been so badly thrashed that in
case her life is saved, she will have to lead a hellish life.
During last 30 years, only three
persons have been hanged for the heinous crime of rape and murder. The problems
will not be solved by just making provision for death sentence. Beside harsh
punishment, display of a strong will to act is also required in such matters.
So long the masters of the masses occupying seats of power do not display
strong will to act, nothing good will come out of the provision of death
sentence. The youth anger being witnessed on the streets is the consequence of
such indifference. Former President of India, Pratima Devi Singh Patil,
who liberally granted number of amnesty to condemned culprits, forgot that there
were seven such beasts of persons among the people who were benefitted by her
pardons, who not only raped minor girls, but brutally murdered them. Mr. Shinde
are you listening that all these mercy petitions were recommended by your Home
Ministry. These seven are beasts, for whom the death sentence would have been
insufficient in view of their heinous acts. Entire country is unanimous over severe
punishment to the rapists. According to a newspaper, which conducted a survey,
Chief Ministers of 11 States and leaders of the Government and the Opposition
there, 143 MPs and Legislators were in the favour of death sentence. Even the
Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Leaders of Opposition of both the Houses and a number
of Union Ministers have also expressed their view in favour capital punishment.
Then why the Central Government is not agreeing to call a special session of
Parliament over the issue of provision of death sentence? If the Government is
concerned about judges, then the Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court rejected the
petition of Vitthal Chopra of Buldhana (?) stating that incidents of rape and
murder are increasing. The Bench of Justice Pratap Hardas and Arun Chowdhary
said that death sentence should be awarded to the criminals responsible for
serious crimes against women. So far as world reactions, first of all, we must
ignore these and secondly, death sentence is prevalent in many countries. In
Arab countries, severer than death punishment for such heinous crimes is
awarded. In Iran,
if such a matter comes to the Courts, sentence of whipping is given for general
crimes and for severe crimes death sentence is awarded. Similar situation
prevails in Iraq
also. In Iraq,
under Sharia laws, there is provision of harsher punishment of publicly stoning
to death. In Philippines,
death sentenced is given in rape cases. Most harsh law is prevalent in Saudi Arabia, where
sentence ranging from whipping to hanging are given and the process of death
sentence is so repulsive that an ordinary man cannot stand it. There is provision
of capital punishment for rapists in Sri Lanka
and Pakistan.
In China,
rapists are caned and strangulated. In America, rapists are applied
electric shocks. And our Mrs. Shinde is asking what the public want? Not only
this, Mr. Shinde has equated agitating students with Maoists!
