People from different sections of society on Saturday joined their hands in different rallies against the increasing number of crimes against women. Congress MP Priya Dutt also led a protest march demanding strict action against the accused in the Delhi gang rape case.
Several organisations, NGOs and women across the city participated in a joint protest march against the increasing number of crimes against women. The protesters carried banners, posters and shouted slogans against such crimes.
Around 350-400 women started their protest march from Dadar (East) (the place where a week ago a woman was stabbed) demanding justice to all the women across the country who were subject to crimes against them.
“The incident is not limited to Delhi, but the similar kinds of atrocities are taking place on women across the nation. We have gathered in Mumbai to demand assurance from the government about the safety of women,” said Hasina Khan of Aawaz-e-Niswaan.
Ms. Khan said the government, instead of putting restrictions on women, must ensure their safety by increasing the police force and strengthening the judicial system. “How can they tell us what to wear and what not to? It is our body and only we have a right on it,” she said.
Preethy Sekhar, State secretary of the Democratic Youth Federation of India, demanded a time-bound inquiry in rape cases. “There are more police personnel to protect VIPs than women. Public places should be secured with adequate police personnel, which is the need of the hour,” said Ms. Sekhar.
Ms. Dutt also carried a protest march demanding strict action against the accused in the Delhi gang rape case.
Asked whether the accused should be given death penalty, Ms. Dutt said: “Nothing less than that (death penalty) should do.” “It is the sheer anger of people against the incident,” she said.