Advocating against politicising the unfortunate incident of the brutal rape of a 23-year-old girl in Delhi, MoS for Human Resource Development Shashi Tharoor on Monday said the Indian society should stand united against politicising the incident.
“The govt and protesters should work for a common cause. The Delhi incident should have to be taken as a wake-up call and we have to create a cultural consciousness. Our boys should be taught to respect women,” he said while addressing a meet-the-press here. Tharoor said the outrage and shock was understandable and the fear should be addressed. “Several people who wanted to take part in the protests did not join the protests because of the intrusion of some unruly elements amongst protestors,” he said.
He said the govt effectively intervened immediately after the incident.He said the culprits should be tried through a fast track judicial process. “There is widespread sympathy for the girl and the anger of the youth is understandable. But marching towards Rashtrapathi Bhavan is not a solution,” he said. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and AICC General Secretary had talked to the protesters, he said.
‘IIT Not Soon’
Noting that the setting up of an IIT in the state was not that easy, Tharoor said that it had not been included in the 12th Five-Year Plan.
“This means that we will not be getting an IIT for the next five years,” he said and added that they were exerting pressure for getting the prestigious institution.
The Centre has said that it would be difficult to provide an IIT in Kerala as the state had already been given a Central University and Indian Institute of Science Education and Research.