The shock and anger over rape of a woman in a taxi in Delhi echoed in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, prompting the government to promise stern action against the accused besides steps to create an atmosphere of safety for women.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh informed the House that this year, till November, 25,000 rape cases have been registered from across the country, which is a “national shame”.
Taking a serious view of the situation, members cutting across party lines hurled questions as to how such incidents continue to occur despite “tall claims” of the government and a spate of initiatives after the infamous Nirbhaya episode of 2011 to protect women and a strong legislation.
Sharing concerns of the members, Singh said as a Home Minister, he was “pained” over such incidents.
Condemning the rape of the woman in a taxi by its driver on Friday night, he said the Centre has asked all states and union territories to ensure stoppage of web-based taxi services like Uber, which are not licensees with them.
Operations of Uber have already been banned in Delhi.
Singh, however, made it clear that the government was not in favour of banning taxi services but wants to regulate their operations. The government’s intentions should not be questioned in this regard, he added.
Making a suo motu statement and replying to queries by the members, Singh said it will be ensured that all necessary steps are taken to bring the offender to justice.
The Home Minister said the Delhi Police, which comes directly under him, is examining the legal liability of the taxi service Uber.
He said the “character” certificate that the accused had obtained was fake. The accused was earlier apprehended on charges of rape and subsequently acquitted after a year.
Earlier, members condemned the heinous crime.
Anand Sharma (Cong) wanted to know whether the government was looking into lapses committed by Delhi police and Transport Department for not doing a background check before issuing license and registeration.
Taking a dig at the government, he said while it banned the Uber services, a Cabinet Minister criticised the action against the cab provider. He suggested that they may sit together and arrive at a consensus.
“We can not live like this. We are not safe,” said woman member of CPI(M) T N Seema while demanding immediate safety and security measures for women.
Rajani Patil (Cong) said the previous UPA government’s initiative to start a website to name-and-shame rape convicts by the National Crime Record Bureau has been given a quiet burial.
Jaya Bacchan (SP), who earlier said she will register her “silent protest”, stood on her feet after the Minister’s statment and said, “I am saying with lots of pain and angst that nothing happens here” on women safety issues.
Deputy Chairman P J Kurien asked her not to make such remarks while saying the House was united in condemning the henious incident.
K C Tyagi (JDU) said he felt “ashamed to be a man” after such incidents and also pointed out slow pace of judicial process in Nirbhaya case.
S C Misra (BSP) questioned the utility of the large fleet of police vehicles for surveillance in checking such incidents.
Naresh Agarwal (SP) cautioned against giving political colour to the issue, Derek O’ Brien (Trinamool) demanded to know what concrete action the government had initiated for safety of women since Nirbhaya incident including the number of all-women police stations and setting up of fast-track courts.
Vijay Goel (BJP) urged the government to issue directions so that any PCR van, when called, should proceed immediately instead of demanding that 100 number should be dialled first.
D Raja (CPI) said it was a matter of grave concern that even school girls were being abused.
Others who expressed their concerns included Ramdas Athawale (RPIA), Viplove Thakur (Cong) A Navneetkrishnan and Rajni Patil (Cong) Rajeev Shukla (Cong), Renuka Chowdhary (Cong), JD Seelam (Cong) and Tapan Sen (CPIM).
The Home Minister said there is no shortage of laws but their proper implementation is the need of the hour if such incidents have to be checked. These cases can be addressed through fast track courts, he added.
Talking about conviction, he said the rate in Delhi is 36 per cent, higher than the national average.
On concerns of members about women safety, he cited steps like maintaining of vigil at 255 sensitive locations/roads in the capital, installation of CCTV cameras in 200 buses and 3707 CCTV public places with plans for 1518 more.
He said the strength of PCR vans will be raised to 1000 soon and it will be ensured that these vans initiate action immediately after any complaint without waiting for any call.
With regard to unmanned places, he said he will call a meeting to ensure security in such places.
Listing out the initiatives taken to strengthen the security apparatus in the capital, he said installation of GPS system has been made compulsory in all public transport system.
He also answered criticism about utilisation of the Nirbhaya Fund, saying Rs 320 crore has been sanctioned for a women security emergency response scheme and the project would be implemented in the next six to seven month.
Giving details of the rape incident, the Home Minister earlier said that the woman reported that while sitting in the taxi, she dozed off for a while and then suddently realised that the taxi was parked at an isolated place.
The driver was trying to molest her on the back seat. She tried to raise an alarm but the driver threatened her of physical injury and then she was sexually assaulted in the car, he said.
After committing the crime, the driver dropped her at her home at around 1 am and threatened her again not to disclose the incident to anyone.
As soon as the information reached the police, a case was registered on December 6 under sections 376, 323 and 506 of the IPC.
Immediately police teams were formed to identify and locate the culprit. The woman was sent for medical examination and she was also counselled by an NGO volunteer authorised by Delhi Commission for women, he said.
Following clues, the driver was zeroed down to Mathura.