Delhi rape case: Members express shock in Rajya Sabha

The shock over gruesome rape and brutality of a five-year-old girl resonated in Rajya Sabha with members cutting across party lines pressing for stern action.

New Delhi: The shock over gruesome rape and brutality of a five-year-old girl on Monday resonated in the Rajya Sabha with members cutting across party lines pressing for stern action, including death penalty, to deal with such crimes even if it needs a relook at the new anti-rape law.

The House took up an impromptu discussion on the issue during which members also suggested an all-party meeting to find ways of tackling such crimes more effectively. Initiating the debate, BJP leader Maya Singh referring to the latest rape incident in East Delhi and said the accused should be given "immediate death penalty" without going through a lengthy court trial. "It is proved that the person has done it (crime). Still, a case will be registered and tried in court. It is a lengthy process. We should immediately award him death penalty. Such people should be hanged," she sought. She said the new anti-rape bill should be relooked, if required, to make it further stringent. That apart, she demanded an all-party meeting should be convened soon to discuss this issue. The anti-rape bill was passed in Parliament last month against the backdrop of the country-wide outrage over Delhi gang-rape. It aims to provide for life term and even death sentence for rape convicts besides stringent punishment for offences like acid attacks, stalking and voyeurism. Blaming the Delhi Police for failing to tackle such crimes in the city, Singh said that enacting laws in Parliament alone is not sufficient, it is necessary that the law is implemented in full spirit. She sought to know from the Home Minister, "Who is ruling the roost and who is going to take action?" PTI