Rape outrage

“I want to assure the nation that no criminal will be spared. Justice will be done. Our daughters will get justice. We all will have to work together to end this internal evil,” he said.

Sunday’s protests brought back memories of massive outpouring across India triggered by the fatal gang rape of a 23-year-old woman in December 16, 2012, in the national capital that led to stricter rape laws in the country.

More than 500 people gathered at the Parliament Street in Delhi with ‘Not in My Name’ banners, demanding the immediate dismissal of the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh for allegedly protecting Kuldeep Singh Sengar, his party’s Unnao MLA, in the rape case.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal joined the protests along with Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal near Rajghat, where she is holding an indefinite hunger strike to demand the setting up of more fast-track courts to complete trials in rape cases of minors within six months. Maliwal is also demanding the death penalty for people convicted for raping minors. A silent protest was also held by the Delhi Pradesh Youth Congress near the Rajiv Chowk metro station.

In Jammu, people of different faiths pledged to maintain communal harmony, and demanded capital punishment for the culprits involved in the rape-andmurder of the 8-year-old girl.

In Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow, social activists, theatre artistes, students and volunteers demanded justice in the rape cases. Former vice-chancellor of the Lucknow University and social activist Roop Rekha Verma said: “The Unnao and Kathua rape cases are not merely incidents of crime against women. It is a political matter where accused are being supported by top politicians of the country.”

Protests were also held in Kerala, where several organisations took to the streets.