Sushma is angry, renews 'hang the rapists' demand

New Delhi, April 20: Renewing the debate over death for rapists, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said today that rapists of minor girls reflect a "mental sickness" which needs a "shock treatment" of hanging.

"They reflect a mental sickness which has crept in society...a strong law is not sufficient, they need a shock treatment... They should be hanged to send a strong message to other people," she said.

Clearly not satisfied with the anti-rape law enacted this month, she said the law passed by the parliament was not sufficient to deal with people accused of rape. Sushma asked Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde to immediately call a meeting of political parties to discuss two changes needed in the law.

"We need two more changes in the anti-rape law...related to minor victims and such horrifying, soul churning instances (brutal sexual assault of a five-year-old girl)," said Swaraj.

The five-year-old girl was abducted April 15 and kept hostage without food and water in a room in which the attacker lived. The accused Manoj Kumar, 25, has been arrested today.

Even the Vice President Hamid Ansari echoed the sentiments of punishment. In a statement he said "I am deeply saddened and outraged at the brutal rape of the five-year old child in Delhi. My thoughts and prayers are for a speedy recovery of the child. We must ensure that the best possible medical treatment is provided to the little one. Apart from bringing the perpetrator of this heinous crime to justice expeditiously, it is critical for all of us to reflect on why these barbaric acts keep recurring in our midst. We need to collectively work towards urgently changing the regressive mindset vis-a-vis our womenfolk prevalent in our society. Else, our heads would continue to hang in shame and we will lose our right to be called a civilized, progressive society."

However, not spelling out her stand, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi today condemned the brutal rape and said "action and not words are required to check incidents like this heinous rape".

"Action and not words are required to check incidents like this heinous rape...," Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi told reporters, quoting Gandhi. "Not only police, people should also be watchful," he said.

Sensitise policemen

Meanwhile, condemning the brutal rape and mishandling of the case by police, Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath today said there is a need to sensitise policemen in dealing with such cases.

"I had met the Delhi Police Commissioner some days back and had asked him to sensitise police officers while dealing with such cases. The behaviour of the police officers dealing with such sensitive matters needs to be a crucial part of their training," the Minister said today.

She had spoken to the Home Minister on the need to focus on police response in such cases. "I have spoken to the Home minister on the need to sensitise police. I have also sought a report from the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights over the incident. Presently we are very concerned over the well being of the child," Tirath said.

Assuring all possible help to the victim's family, she said, "I am deeply shocked and aggrieved. I condemn this act in the strictest words. The ministry of Women and Child Development will extend all possible help to the child and her family."

OneIndia News