Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that crimes against women will not go unpunished, in his first public comments after the Kathua and Unnao rape cases sparked nationwide protests and prompted the Opposition to attack his government.
"Incidents being discussed in the last two days cannot be part of a civilised society. As a country, as a society, we are ashamed of it," he said at a function to inaugurate a memorial for BR Ambedkar.
"I want to assure the country that no culprit will be spared. Our daughters will definitely get justice," the PM said. His comments triggered a chain of events including the resignation of two BJP ministers from J&K government in the Kathua case. CBI also arrested BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar for the Unnao rape.
Earlier in the day, his Minister of Women and Child Development (WCD) Maneka Gandhi said that she was "deeply, deeply disturbed" by the Kathua and other recent cases, and that she will push for the death penalty to those raping minors below 12 years of age.
"I and the ministry intend to bring an amendment to the POCSO Act, asking for the death penalty for rape on children below 12 years," said Gandhi in a video posted by her ministry on social media.
The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, was passed in the aftermath of the December 16 gangrape and murder of a paramedic in Delhi, a crime that had also led to nationwide protests.
The Act deals with sexual offences against those below 18. Currently, the maximum punishment for aggravated sexual assault on minors under the POCSO Act is life imprisonment.
The Act, however, is not applicable to Jammu and Kashmir, and will be applicable only when it is passed by the state assembly.
WCD secretary Rakesh Srivastava said that the ministry is working on a draft proposal that will be sent to the law ministry soon. He said once the law ministry has vetted the proposal, it will be sent to the Cabinet for approval.
Recently, Rajasthan cleared a bill that seeks death for those convicted of raping girls under 12. Two other BJP ruled states — Madhya Pradesh and Haryana — have also okayed similar proposals.
Srivastava urged the media to adhere to the guidelines that bar anyone from identifying any sexual crime victim.
Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Smriti Irani, too, appealed to people to not indulge in victim-shaming. "Law agencies and government are taking necessary action. As a woman, I believe and request there should be no victim shaming," Irani told reporters.
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