Rising cases of rape: Centre says ready to explore stringent laws | Infographic

New Delhi: It has been a tough week for those at the helm of India's governance with reports of violence against women mushrooming from various parts of the country. The latest among them and one to rock society's conscious and put its gears in motion is the rape and murder of a 22-year-old veterinarian on the outskirts of Hyderabad.

Lok Sabha members on Monday expressed outrage at the incident and the government's inability to provide a safe environment for women who are equal citizens and deserving of their rights. Centre has in response said that it was ready for a discussion and willing to explore more stringent provisions in laws to check such situations.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who fell short of words to condemn the heinous crime, said he was "ready for discussions in the House so that stringent provisions in laws could be explored to give punishment to those involved in such ghastly incidents."

The minister said the incident had hurt everyone. He observed that such heinous crimes were happening even after strict law was framed post the Nirbhaya incident.

As soon as the House met for the day, Speaker Om Birla said he would allow members to raise the "serious issue" in the Zero Hour.

Terming the rape of the young veterinarian in Hyderabad as "painful" and an "inhuman" incident, Uttam Kumar Reddy (INC) demanded that fast track court should pronounce a quick verdict and hang the accused.

T R Baalu (DMK) raised the issue of another similar incident – the sexual assault of a schoolgirl in Coimbatore. Those involved in the crime should be punished, Baalu said, adding the government should come forward and ensure time-bound action.

Saugata Roy (TMC) pointed out that even after the enactment of strict laws after the Nirbhaya case, rapes were still taking place. He was of the view that the House should take cognisance of this serious incident and urged the Centre to immediately frame laws to make rape punishable by death sentence. Pinaki Misra (BJD) also questioned the delay in executing the death sentence awarded to convicts in the Nirbhaya gang-rape case.

Observing that such brutal incidents create a bad atmosphere across the country, Bandi Sanjay Kumar (BJP) was of the view that when such incidents take place "we need to implement punishment on the spot."

Telangana minister KT Rama Rao on Friday condemned the incident and promised to monitor the case personally.

On November 29, four men, aged between 20 and 24, were arrested on charges of raping and killing the young woman veterinarian in Hyderabad. The incident sent shockwaves across the state, drew all-round condemnation besides bringing people from all walks of life out on streets in protest against the heinous crime.

(With inputs from PTI)