Parliament condemns Delhi bus gangrape, MPs demand capital punishment

New Delhi, Dec 18: Members cutting across party lines in Lok Sabha today condemned that Delhi bus gangrape incident as "shameful" and demanded capital punishment for rapists. Even the Speaker Meira Kumar herself described the incident as a "ghastly act". Initiating the debate during Zero Hour, Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj castigated Delhi Police and Delhi government for the lax security measures for women. "The victim, if she survives, will be a walking dead, as the rapists have caused grievous injuries to her body", said Swaraj. "Tell me, should the rapists be hanged or not?", asked Swaraj and the members replied loudly : "Yes". "What is Delhi Police doing? What's the Home Ministry doing? What's Delhi government doing? The entire House condemns this shameful incident", said Swaraj. Former National Women's Commission chief and senior Congress leader Girija Vyas complained that night patrolling by police on Delhi streets has decreased, and no security is provided for women in buses. She mentioned a Supreme Court judge's observation saying "a woman once dead dies, but once she is raped, she dies every moment of her remaining life". Vyas demanded change in definition of rape in Indian Penal Code, setting up of fast track courts to try such cases and organising self-defence programmes for women. Speaker Meira Kumar said, the act was "hair raising", and the entire nation's head hangs in shame. "On behalf of this House, I appeal to the government to take the strongest possible steps without any delay."Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said, the incident was indeed shameful and government would leave no stone unturned in taking stringest steps against the culprits. "Not only this House, but the entire nation is demanding stringent action".In Rajya Sabha, soon after the Home Minister's statement, members cut across party lines to condemn the gangrape incident. Congress member Renuka Chaudhary described it as a terrible atrocity and the strongest punishment for the culprits. BSP supremo Mayawati expressed concern over the growing number of rapes and sexual molestation incidents in the capital and demanded stern punishment. Samajwadi Party member Jaya Bachchan said, people in India worship the feminine form as Goddess Durga, but such reprehensible acts throw water on such beliefs. "Today, Goddess Shakti is helpless", she said. Jaya Bachchan protested when the deputy chairman P J Kurien refused to allow her more time. She stood on her legs in protest, even as JD-U leader Shivanand Tiwari began speaking. Shivanand Tiwari blamed the growing number of rapes to the "market-centric" policies of the government and said that item dances have now become the order of the day. Derek O'Brien of Trinamool Congress described Delhi as the rape capital of India, with 575 cases in a year. He also added Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai to this list. MP Ram Jethmalani demanded the ouster of Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar saying that he should take moral responsibility for the laxity of his force. BJP member Smriti Irani alleged that the sympathisers of the rapists were still roaming free and they had threatened a female TV reporter on Monday evening when she went to the scene of crime. Irani also said that the private bus in which the gangrape occured was being used a school bus during the day time. How can we allow such goons to ferry our children to school? she asked.