The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs has urged the government not to grant mercy to the accused in rape and murder cases. It also said that the mercy petitions in such cases be disposed of within three months and the reasons for clemency by the President should be made public. The panel headed by BJP leader M. Venkaiah Naidu has called upon the government to stop vulgar portrayal of women in pictures and entertainment programmes to safeguard moral and ethical values in the society. The Committee has impressed upon the Home Ministry to ask the States to set up women cells in all police stations across the country to enable them easy access to lodge complaints against the perpetrators of sexual violence. The Committee has felt that registration of FIRs should be made mandatory.