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Journalism of Courage
NEW DELHI, July 24: Members in the Rajya Sabha today expressed concern at increasing crime against women and demanded capital punishment for such heinous acts as rape through a legislation to arrest the menace.
A change of attitude in society is also imperative in dealing with problems faced by women, they said participating in the resumed discussion on a private members bill by Saroj Khaparde Cong. Khaparde is Member of Parliament from Maharshtra.
Expressing shock at a recent report of a 90-year-old woman being raped, she asked 8220;is it not a reflection of our values?8221;
While appealing for deterrent capital punishment and education of people and police, Khaparde urged for amendment of laws toensure speedy disposal of cases.
Sanathan Bisi Janata Dal, while supporting the bill, however, said its definition should be enlarged to encompass all forms of crime and cruelty against women. To check this form of violence, he suggested establishment of district level woman cells and all-woman police stations.
Omkar Singh Lakhawat BJP termed attrocities against women a social evil and said it was particularly painful that 89 per cent of rapes were committed by relatives.
8220;Authorities must think not just in terms of punishment but reforms,8221; he said adding that only law could not help.
Only with emancipation of women, their education and financial independence would atrocities against women decrease, Lakhawat added.
He called for special courts that ensure speedy and not summary trial, and the most stringent punishment to violators.
Ramachandran Pillai CPI said trying to introduce new legislations was the right step in trying to control violence against women.
However, he termed this a8220;criminal remedy8221; and wanted victims to be provided with sufficient compensation. This, he added, was a lacuna in the legal system.
Urmilaben Patel Cong said existing laws were not sufficient to deal with crimes against women. Police and jail officials were also involved in such crimes, she alleged and suggested streamlining and modifying existing laws and strengthening legal provisions to give equal status to women.
Ila Dutt SP said special courts should be set up to deal with atrocities against women with provision to settle cases, where cognizance was taken, in four to six months.
Sexist remarks
BHUBANESWAR: Women members from all parties in the Orissa Assembly demanded an apology from independent member Arun Dey today for saying that they were only fit for household chores. Quoting Chanakya, Dey had said on Thursday that the country ruled by women and children would be ruined.
Raising the issue during zero hour, senior Congress member Saraswati Hembrum described Dey8217;s statement asunfortunate and demanded that he should express regret. She said that women had excelled in every field, and Indira Gandhi was the best prime minister the country had. BJD member Kamala Das also strongly criticised Dey8217;s statement. She demanded that either his remarks against women be expunged or Dey asked to apologise.
