Delhi Gangrape: HM equates young protesters with 'Maoists'

New Delhi, Dec 24: As the political leadership struggled to deal with public anger over gangrape of a girl here, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde today appeared to bracket angry protesters at India Gate with armed Maoists.

"It is very easy to ask the Home Minister to go to India Gate and talk. Tomorrow, if any other party's demonstration goes on why should not the Home Minister go there. Tomorrow Congress and BJP will demonstrate, tomorrow Maoists will come here to demonstrate with weapons," he said in various interviews.

Shinde said the people should understand the government's role and the government should not go anywhere.

"This will happen tomorrow, for any government. Why should the government go anywhere?" he said.

Asked whether he was trying to compare the protesters with the Maoists, the Home Minister said, "You don't separate it from law and order. I have already talked about it....Since the day they started the agitation, I had met them in my house, in my office...I met their representatives."

"After doing all these if they say we want justice what kind of justice will we give? There should be some limit, we have accepted all the demands," he said.

PM Manmohan Singh appeals for calm, vows to protect women

Issuing a fresh appeal for peace, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said government will look into delay in response in the gangrape case as also all aspects concerning the security of women while asking people to desist from violence.

In a televised address, Singh said he and his family join in the concern for the 23-year-old victim, who was gangraped and brutally assaulted in a moving bus in south Delhi on Dec 16 night.

"As a father of three daughters myself, I feel as strongly about this as each one of you. My wife, my family and I are all joined in our concern for the young woman who was the victim of this heinous crime."

He said the government was constantly monitoring her medical condition.

His statement came as protests, which turned violent yesterday, continued for the seventh day today.

Chaos outside Delhi Metro stations

Chaos ruled outside Metro stations in Central Delhi on Monday as hundreds of people reached the stations unaware that they have been closed due to continuing protests at India Gate against the gangrape of a young girl.

Nine stations, including the busiest Rajiv Chowk, were closed from early morning as people came only to be welcomed by boards that entry or exit to the stations will not be allowed today as per instructions from Delhi Police.