A day after rage over the rape and murder of an eight-year-old and custodial death of an 18-year-old rape survivor’s father erupted over social media, over 15 social and political organisations and members of civil society held a joint protest at Azad Maidan on Friday afternoon.
The protest started at 3 p.m and saw participation from nearly 100-120 people who raised slogans against the government and supporters of the accused. Civil society members were seen in large numbers at the protest. Prakash Reddy, senior leader CPI (M) said, “India has lost respect on the international platform. The PM needs to speak up, he will have to come forward and say something, more than that do something. He keeps talking about so many things on his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ but now when we actually want him to speak, he is not willing to. The incidents are extremely sad and disgusting but the government's silence is deafening.” Later in the evening, the Prime Minister said the culprits in both cases would not be spared, and justice would be done.
General Secretary of the All India Mili council, M.A. Khalid said, “The barbaric act of rape and then beating an eight-year-old to death cannot be justified in any religion. The rapists should be hanged to death, there cannot be any other punishment. Capital punishment can only bring some relief to the family members of the victim, if not justice. To see the perpetrators roam around without being tried and rather being supported is further unjustified for the family of the victims.”
Ritu Dewan, former president of the Indian Association of Women’s Studies, said, “It is one of the darkest incidents in the history of crime this country has witnessed. It is high time that the representatives of the people in the system come out and ensure the safety that was promised, but instead, some of them are supporting the perpetrators. It cannot get worse than that.” Said Varsha Vidya Vilas of the Sadhbhavna Sangh, “In the guise of nationalists, the people who claim to protect the dignity of the motherland perform such a monstrous and barbaric act on an eight-year-old. The time has come to change the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhaao slogan to Beti Bachao, Beti Chupaao [Save the girl, hide the girl]”.
Actor Danish Hussain said, “It’s time we start writing to our representatives to take some action. We have elected our representatives and we need to tell them such an attitude is not acceptable.” Priya Malik, a TV actor, added, “We need to start educating our boys, not just by telling them about right and wrong but by setting an example for them.” Manisha Pandita, an entrepreneur who came from Powai to be a part of the protest felt it was beyond disgust that people have diverted from the cases and are trying to politicise it. “Why do we have to come down to such a level that there is a need to hold a protest? The law and the system should invoke enough fear of consequences among the people that any person who even thinks of committing such a crime shall have to think again and again, till he drops the idea.”
Said a Beirut national who did not wish to be named, “It is extremely disgusting and shameful to learn about such incidents. However, the fact that the common people have understood the gravity of the situation and have come out demanding justice is a step towards justice.”
Lawyer Abha Singh said she did not understand how investigation could be tampered with in the name of religion. “How could the police not find the child when she was missing for seven days straight? How can the Bar Council not do anything about such a serious matter? These are all questions we should ask the citizens of the country. Justice cannot be delayed like this.”
