Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha M. Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday said that despite the Union government’s alleged failure to prevent crimes against women and children, the Congress would support the government’s decision to promulgate an Ordinance making death sentence a punishment for rape of minors.
Speaking to presspersons here on Sunday, he said that laws imposing stringent punishment were already in place and the government was citing rapes in Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh as a reason for the Ordinance.
“But I do not know the reason why the government has not implemented the law strictly. Let them (government) change the current law, if necessary. It will not help if the Ordinance is brought to get applause,” he added. Mr. Kharge said that the Congress would support any law that would help protect children, women, and Dalits.
Despite repeated attacks on Dalits, Mr. Kharge alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was silent. “Except for his speech during Ambedkar Jayanti, he has been touring foreign countries. No Prime Minister will tour other countries instead of addressing the problems that the country is facing,” he added.
