I salute the spirit of people picketing at Jantar Mantar

Vir Arjun, Hindi Daily Newspaper Published From Delhi

 अनिल नरेन्द्र

 I want to salute those thousands and lakhs of people who are fighting for justice to Damini-Anamika since the gang rape incident of 16^th December. You have won the first battle. Delhi Police has filed the charge sheet in the matter just after 18 days of the incident. This was your pressure and your spirit that has made the deaf and dumb Government and Administration to expedite the action in the matter. Normally, it takes months to file charge sheets. It is also not less heartening to see that Delhi Police has framed charges for murder, rape, kidnapping and other criminal acts on the five persons arrested in this matter. The Police has charged Ram Singh, his brother Mukesh and accomplices Pawan Gupta, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Thakur for murder, rape, attempt to murder, kidnapping, unnatural crime, robbery, assault to loot, destroying evidence, criminal conspiracy. The sixth accused being a minor, his case will be heard by the Juvenile Court Board. The Police has, however consider him the main culprit in the case. The Police has specially mentioned about this juvenile accused in its charge sheet. I salute to the spirit of the people who are braving the chilling cold at Jantar Mantar and are continuing their agitation to seek justice for Damini-Anamika. This incident has not only snapped the bounds of caste and religion, but demand for stricter laws for rapists are being heard in various States. This incident has pulled the walls of not only of caste and religion, but boundaries of States have also become meaningless. At Jantar Mantar, there is none is higher or lower, none is Hindu or Muslim or Sikh or Christian, and there is neither red flag nor saffron or any other flag leading the agitation. All are demanding stricter laws for the safety of women. Interesting aspect of this agitation is that men in larger number are leading the agitation for the rights of women. Recently, condition of a person sitting on fast at Jantar Mantar deteriorated. At the behest of the Police, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital doctors examined the person and on their suggestion, the Police requested him to end his fast. Besides candle march, a number of people organized peace march and peace yajna on Wednesday at Jantar Mantar. Hundreds of people offered prayer in biting cold in the morning. Corner meetings were held in the afternoon and candle march was taken in the evening. Meanwhile, Team Kejriwal orgainsed a youth parliament near Minto Bridge. Jantar Mantar has turned into a square for struggle for the protesters. People are protesting there in such a bitter cold in the hope that next morning might witness a stricter law for the safety of women. Some people have come from Rajasthan to raise their voice for justice at Jantar Mantar, whereas people from Haryana and Punjab also have gathered there to demand safety for their daughters. All of them deserve congratulation. Their struggle has started bearing fruits. Filing of charge sheet in record time is the first victory in this long drawn battle. This pressure must continue till effective measures are taken for the security of women in the country and rapists are given strict punishment.