The Government is likely to call an all-party meeting to discuss the developments after Delhi gang-rape and murder case.
Dismissing the demand from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for a special session of Parliament to discuss violence against women, Congress sources said a full-fledged discussion on strengthening the existing laws would be possible only after submission of the Justice J.S. Verma Commission report on the subject.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi held discussions with members of the National Advisory Council on a separate law to deal with violence against women. The brainstorming session of the party, scheduled in January at Jaipur, will have a separate session on gender sensitisation measures.
Leaders of the women’s wing of the Congress have submitted suggestions to the party high command on expediting the proceedings in rape cases. The party is preparing a model legislation and a set of suggestions, which will be submitted to the Justice Verma Commission soon.
Meanwhile, the BJP said culprits in rape cases should be hanged and the Government should not accept any mercy petitions in such cases. “If this can be done, then this will be the only respect to that victim (Delhi),” the Opposition leader Sushma Swaraj said at a condolence meeting organised by her party to pay homage to the Delhi gang-rape victim.
“The trial of rape cases should be completed within six months and capital punishment be given in cases of rape and murder,” she said. The CPI (M) said political parties, corporates and media companies should declare their gender policy soon. There is an urgent need to raise gender consciousness of the people at the national and local levels, through advocacy, perspective-building and supporting struggles against human rights violations of women,” CPI (M) leader and MP, T.N. Seema, said in a statement.
jigeesh.am@thehindu.co.in