Congress draft to bypass Verma panel

Even as the central government has asked political parties to submit their suggestions to the three-member committee headed by justice (rtd) JS Verma, appointed to review the law and incorporate stringent measures for the safety of women, the ruling Congress has begun a parallel exercise to formulate a draft that is to be submitted directly to the government.

A senior party leader said that Congress president Sonia Gandhi, extremely disturbed and shaken up at the gang rape of the 23-year old Delhi girl, has over the past few days held a series of consultations with party leaders and legal experts to list ways to ensure protection for women.

Asked, if these suggestions would be presented to the Verma committee, or to the government, the leader said that Gandhi being president of the ruling party could communicate the suggestions evolved in consultations directly to the government. The two-day Congress ‘Chintan Shivir’, beginning on January 18 in Jaipur, is also expected to discuss the matter of sexual crimes against women.