Govt takes action on rape, but sons must also be made responsible: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said sons have to be made more responsible for a safe environment for daughters and asserted that the promulgation of an ordinance on rape showed the Centre acted on people's outrage on sexual crimes against minors.

Days after the government approved the ordinance allowing courts to award the death penalty to those convicted of raping girls below the age of 12 years, Modi also called for a social movement to ensure the safety of girls.

"Shivraj ji (Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan) just referred to the capital punishment provided in the ordinance for rape against minors and I could see that it (the remark) received cheers from everyone present here," Modi said while addressing a rally here.

"There is a government in Delhi which listens to your voice and takes decisions. So, the Centre has made a provision for capital punishment to the monstrous intent," he said.

The Union Cabinet had on April 21 okayed the ordinance amid a nation-wide uproar over the rape and murder of minors in Kathua and Surat and the rape of a teenager in Unnao.

"Those who commit such ghastly crimes will hang," the prime minister said.

He also mentioned measures taken by the government for the welfare of tribals and farmers and asked the elected representatives of panchayats to ensure that these steps were implemented.

"Earlier, bamboo was considered a tree and it was hard for the villagers to use bamboo (wood). Now the government has categorised it as grass. Farmers can grow bamboo on the boundaries of their farmland and have an additional income," PM said.

The country imports bamboos worth Rs 12,000-15,000 crores every year, he said.

The prime minister also urged panchayat representatives to spend NREGA funds during the summer months of April, May and June only on works related to water conservation.

In his speech at the rally in the tribal-dominated district, Modi also referred to the role of members of tribal communities and others in India's freedom struggle, and said it was unfortunate that only the contribution of a few families was mentioned in its history.