Rajasthan min calls for public hanging of rapists

Social Justice and Empowerment minister of Rajasthan Bhanwarlal Meghwal has said that rapists should be publicly hanged. Just like some other countries rapists should be castrated, their hands chopped off. He has also called upon all courts to ensure that sentence should be pronounced in rape cases within three months and offender be hanged. Meghwal was speaking at the state’s Congress office, where he was holding a public hearing to address grievances.

Meghwal said, “It (rape) is a heinous crime. These crimes did not take place when there was no television or mobiles. I feel people watch TV and emulate such crimes. I call upon the state and central government to ensure that rapists are hanged and the entire trial is wrapped in the Supreme Court within three months. There are laws, the government and police function according to it. I urge the police to function in a sensitive manner.” Talking about the need to hang rapists, Meghwal said, “These crimes will stop only when the offenders are publicly hanged. As is prevalent in many countries rapists should be castrated, their hands chopped off. There are strict laws, but courts should also understand the intent behind the law. From district courts to the Supreme Court all should give a death sentence, only then will these crimes stop.” This is the second minister of Rajasthan to blame the Internet and television for crimes like rape. Culture minister BD Kalla too had blamed the Internet, mobile and cinema for falling moral standards in the society and crimes against women. Even BJP MP from Rajsamand Diya Kumari - of the erstwhile Jaipur royal family - also said that she would think twice before taking public transport and had demanded immediate and exemplary punishment for accused in the Hyderabad case.

It needs to be added that Rajasthan has a law for hanging rapists of children below twelve years. The Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill 2018 came into existence on March 9, 2018, during the BJP government. According to the amended bill, a person accused of raping a girl below twelve years will get death sentence or rigorous imprisonment no less than 14 years. Several offenders have been sentenced to death since the bill, but no hanging has taken place as yet in the state.

It (rape) is a heinous crime. These crimes did not take place when there was no television or mobiles. I feel people watch TV and emulate such crimes.