Anti-rape bill: Party`s promise fulfilled, says Congress

New Delhi: Welcoming the passage of anti-rape bill by Parliament, Congress Thursday thanked the government for delivering on the party`s promise in this regard.

"On behalf of the party, I would like to thank the government for the Anti-Rape Bill that was passed by both the Houses of Parliament. We would also like to thank members of both the Houses," party spokesperson Sandeep Dikshit said at the AICC briefing. "When that barbaric incident happened on December 16, the party had said that whatever changes have to be made in the law, we will do that. Today, the government has delivered on its promise and we thank all members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for this," Dikshit said. Parliament today passed the anti-rape bill providing natural life term or even death for repeat offenders of rape. The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2013 commonly known as the anti-rape bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha after amendments moved by Left MPs were defeated. The Lok Sabha had passed the bill on March 19. Dikshit also welcomed the Cabinet nod to the Food Security Bill and said that this was a major promise of the party and the government. Maintaining that party President Sonia Gandhi kept pushing for the bill, the Congress spokesperson said close to two-third of the population would benefit from this measure. "We hope that the Bill will be presented in the Lok Sabha tomorrow as it couldn`t happen today," he said. PTI