PM rattled by Delhi protests but wants business as usual

New Delhi, April 22:

Manmohan Singh is rattled by the swelling

, both inside

and outside, over rape issue.

To bring the opposition back to Parliament, he issued a statement today. This comes after his advise to the police to show "concern and sensitivity while dealing with public anxiety that such incidents generate."

The prime minister said today the "this is a very important part of the session of Parliament. Important financial business is before the House. There are also important Bills like the Food Security Bill, the Land Acquisition Bill, which require to be passed. And it is my sincere wish that the House should be allowed to function. "

Asking for cooperation he said "if there are any concerns of the Opposition, we are willing to debate all those issues which worry the Opposition. Therefore my request to all members of the Opposition is to let the Government function. We have been put in this position by the people of India to deliver certain goods, and we hope that everyone would cooperate in that process: that the budget is passed, that essential business contained in other important Bills is also dealt with effectively."

Manmohan's appeal comes even as activists, students and political workers organised protests against the rape of the five-year-old, for the fourth day today.

Protestors tried to force their way past barricades at Jantar Mantar, the designated area for demonstrations in Delhi. Protestors want to march up to the Parliament. Due to these protests there were traffic jams in New Delhi.

Many commuters have been put to lot of hardship due to closure of three Metro stations. Race Course Road, Central Secretariat and Udyog Bhavan are close to Parliament, India Gate and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's residence, and have been shut down.

The public anger is reminiscent of the furore that filled the street after the fatal gang-rape of a student on a moving bus in Delhi in December.

Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde in a statement to Parliament has said that an enquiry has been ordered to determine whether police officials initially refused to help search for the child, and then offered a bribe to her parents to buy their silence.

OneIndia News