The President, the Vice President, the Prime Minister, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and hosts of leaders have condoled the death of the rape victim.
President Pranab Mukharjee has deeply condoled the demise of Delhi rape victim and appealed to ensure that such an incident will never happen again.
While speaking on the inauguration of Nirmal Kumar Phadkule Auditorium at Solapur on Saturday, he emphasized the need to get respect and security for women from all sections of the society.
He also expected that women should treat like mothers and sisters and their dignity should always maintain.
Governor of Maharashtra K. Shankarnarayn, Chief Minister Mr. Prithviraj Chavan, Union Home Minister Mr. Shulkumar Shinde , Union Health Minister Mr. Ghulm Nabi Azad and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
President is on one-day tour to Solapur and Pune district today. He would attend various programmes besides taking “darshan” of lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
Vice President Md. Hamid Ansari said that a young and promising life has been brutally snatched away in most tragic circumstances. He said, not only her family has lost a daughter and a sister but every Indian is feeling the sense of loss.
The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said that he was deeply saddened to learn about the death of the unfortunate victim of the brutal assault. He said he joins the nation in conveying to her family and friends his deepest condolences at this terrible loss.
Dr. Singh said the nation has already seen the emotions and energies this incident has generated. These are perfectly understandable reactions from a young India and an India that genuinely desires change. He said it would be a true homage to her memory if we are able to channelize these emotions and energies into a constructive course of action.
The Prime Minister said the need of the hour is a dispassionate debate and inquiry into the critical changes that are required in societal attitudes. Government is examining, on priority basis, the penal provisions that exist for such crimes and measures to enhance the safety and security of women.
He hoped that the entire political class and civil society will set aside narrow sectional interests and agenda to help in reaching the end that we all desire which is making India a demonstrably better and safer place for women to live in.
Condoling the death of the Delhi gang rape victim, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday pledged that the girl will get justice.
In a televised address to the nation, Ms. Gandhi said that swift and fitting punishment will be given to the perpetrators of the crime. She urged people to remain calm and help strengthen the Government's collective resolve to stop crimes against women.
She said that as a woman and mother, she understands the pain of the victim's family and the her fight will not go in vain.
Expressing grief over the Delhi gang rape victim’s death, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar said that the country has lost a courageous daughter who faced life with tremendous strength and fortitude.
She said the girl has become a powerful symbol of the ongoing battle to ensure justice for women and effect social change.
On the demand for a special session of Parliament to discuss amendments in the existing laws concerning rape and crimes against women, Ms. Kumar said that only the President can call it on the advice of the Government.
Maintaining that there should be zero-tolerance policy for sexual assault, Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan on Saturday demanded that the men involved in the gangrape of the 23-year-old paramedical student, who died in a Singapore hospital, be punished immediately.
Natarajan told this to reporters on the sidelines of a function in Chennai.
Claiming that stringent laws were already available in the country, she said it should be implemented so that the accused were punished without any delay in such incidents.
Earlier, participating in the Golden jubilee celebrations of Animal Welfare Board of India, Natarajan requested people to observe a two minute silence to pay homage to the departed soul.
Terming the gang-rape of the 23-year-old girl as a shameful incident for her as an administrator, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said one must ensure that such ghastly acts do not recur. She also appealed to people to maintain peace and calm against the backdrop of violent demonstrations last weekend over the gang-rape incident.
Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting has appealed for calm across the country. In his message he conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the family of the brave heart. He said, the girl waged a relentless battle to live but destiny had willed it otherwise.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has expressed grief over the death of Delhi rape victim. In a message in Lucknow on Saturday he said that she was a brave girl who fought till the end. He demanded stringent punishment for the perpetrators of a crime like rape.
Former Chief Minister Mayawati has demanded the death penalty for the Delhi girl rapists.
Addressing to media in Lucknow she said that it is the need of the hour to make a change in the criminal laws of the country, along with stringent application of the same so that no one can dare to commit the heinous crime specially against women.
