Death for Rape, Stop this Shame, Hang the Rapists slogans dotted Jantar Mantar on Sunday afternoon as Delhiites raised their angst over crimes against women. The International Women’s Day in the national Capital witnessed fresh outrage against statements of defence lawyers AP Singh and Ml Sharma and convict Mukesh Singh in the recently banned documentary on the grisly December 2012 gangrape.
Urging for a ‘rape-free India’, effigies of the lawyers Singh and Sharma along with the rape convicts, were hung from a tree. The December 16 gangrape case is stuck ever since the convicts moved the apex court on March 15, 2014, two days after their sentence was upheld by the High Court. The Supreme Court needs to further confirm their sentences after hearing their appeals.
“The debate over whether the rape convicts should be given a death penalty must end. All the accused should be given a death sentence right away. There are people who say that death penalty should not been given need to counsel themselves,” said a volunteer of 16 December Kranti, a group which has been protesting at Jantar Mantar ever since the December 16 gangrape happened.
However, contending that India has never imposed restrictions on women, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that women like Rani lakshmibai should be brought out of the pages of history and made an inspiration for the new generation. “Women have played an important role whether it is in the freedom struggle or in the field of knowledge. I feel that women who have done excellent work in the past, we should pick them out of pages of history and teach that to our children,” he added.
Wherever We Go, However We Dress, NO MEANS NO, Disregard for women, Shameful Mentality were some of the placards on display. Streets plays, slogans marked the occasion as people came out in large numbers to celebrate Women’s Day. From raising slogans to songs, various NGOs, social organisations like YWCA, AIDWA participated in the events.
“The change in mentality will come only once we begin this change from home. We need to counsel ourselves. What the defence lawyers had said is a product of a sick mindset,” said Vivek Pandey. Meanwhile, Deputy CM Manish Sisodia said on the occasion of International Women’s Day that the Delhi Government will set up fast track courts in all the courts in Delhi to ensure speedy justice to the women in the cases of crime against women and Justice Verma Committee report will also be implemented soon in Delhi.
Moreover 200 women two wheeler riders participated in the Women Safe Rally organised by Delhi Traffic Police. “Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi urged the women riders to use the helmets and also strap them well while driving. In his interaction with the participants, the Commissioner of Police also encouraged them to take up training in unarmed combat,” said Sharad Agarwal, Additional Commissioner of Police-Traffic.