…and Mr. Shinde asks, what justice you want?

Vir Arjun, Hindi Daily Newspaper Published From Delhi

अनिल नरेन्द्र

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!