As protests over the gang-rapeincident turned violent, Congress today appealed for calm withparty President Sonia Gandhi assuring a group of youths thatall steps will be taken to fast-track the case so that theassailants get punishment.
Rahul Gandhi is reported to have told the group thatdecisions cannot be driven by emotions and that they should betaken in a "rational" manner.
Sonia and Rahul, an AICC General Secretary, had an over90 minute-long meeting with a group of protesters at her 10Janpath residence during which Minister of State for HomeAffairs R P N Singh and Congress spokesperson Renuka Chaudhurywere also present.
"A group of seven persons placed their demands, we alsonoted down their suggestions and also briefed them about thesteps the government has taken so far. We had told them thatthere is a need to maintain calm and the government iscommitted to take all steps," Singh said.
Sonia is learnt to have expressed agreement with thecontention of the protesters that there is a need to do muchmore to instill a sense of security among women and that theincident has indeed created a fear among them.
She is also learnt to have assured the youths that allsteps will be taken to fast-track the case so that theperpetrators of the ghastly crime on the 23-year-old girl in amoving bus last Sunday night get punishment.
Sonia also nodded in the affirmative when the youths toldthem that there is an urgent need to sensitise the policeforces.
Sources said during the meeting Rahul told the group ofyouths that while he understands and respect their emotionsand acknowledged that the issue is very emotive, he alsostressed that "decision making should happen in a rationalmanner. Decisions taken cannot be driven merely by emotions".
Rahul also told the youths to come out with rationalsuggestions to ensure that such incidents are prevented andperpetrators of such crime are given punishment in a shortperiod of time.
Today's meeting in the morning came hours after Soniacame out of her residence shortly after midnight to meet abigger group of protesters that had gathered there.
She sat among the protesters on the ground and talked tothem for close to 20 minutes. She had told them that she wouldbe willing to meet their delegation in the morning.
"I am with you...and justice will be delivered," Soniahad told them.