The Parliament on Friday witnessed uproar over the shocking and brutal gangrape of a 23-year-old photojournalist in Mumbai even as the Union home ministry stepped in seeking a report from the state government on the incident assuring harshest action against the culprits.
While MPs cutting across party lines condemned the incident, unsavoury scenes were witnessed in the Upper House as the treasury benches and BJP verbally clashed over the incidents of rising crimes against women in states.
Terming the incident “extremely tragic and unfortunate”, Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde said, “First of all, what happened in Mumbai is a matter concerning that state. Inspite of that, I have spoken to the Mumbai police commissioner. The investigation is progressing.”
Minister of state for home R.P.N. Singh said the home ministry has sought a detailed report from the Mumbai police. “It is an extremely tragic and unfortunate incident that has happened in Mumbai. We have also asked the Mumbai police to take immediate action...to arrest the accused. Harshest punishment should be meted out to these people,” he said.
Expressing serious concern over increasing atrocities on women, BJP member Smriti Irani raised the issue during Zero Hour demanding to know what steps had been initiated to prevent recurrence of such incidents which take place despite repeated assurances of improving law and order condition in the aftermath of Delhi gangrape.
Members from Congress and BJP sparred over the issue for about ten minutes as the ruling party MPs alleged that maximum incidents of rape were occurring in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh and the Mumbai incident should not be politicised. Earlier, raising the issue, Ms Irani said “This is not an incident that has to be viewed in isolation. Every time such an incident occurs, representatives of government come out to give a sound byte to regret it, but no action is taken. Till how long will we be quiet and mute spectator to the rising crime against women?”
The BJP member wanted to know if the Mumbai police knew about illegal activities going on in the Shakti Mill and what kind of security there was. She also said that barely four days ago, a female foreign visitor was attacked with blade in Mumbai, while there was also a case of acid attack in Bandra.
As soon as she regretted that “unfortunately the nation’s capital Delhi has become a rape capital”, another verbal clash ensued between the treasury benches and BJP. Amid the din, deputy chairman P.J. Kurien asked members not to bring politics in such heinous crimes.