In remarks that can stoke acontroversy, Union Minister Shashi Tharoor today favouredmaking public the identity of the 23-year-old gang-rape victimwondering what interest is served by keeping her name underwraps.
Tharoor, the Minister of State for Human ResourcesDevelopment, also said the revised anti-rape legislationshould be named after the victim if her parents do not haveany objection.
"Wondering what interest is served by continuinganonymity of #DelhGangRape victim. Why not name&honour her asa real person w/own identity?" he asked on micro-blogging siteTwitter.
"Unless her parents object, she should be honoured&therevised anti-rape law named after her. She was a human beingw/a name,not just a symbol," Tharoor, who is known forspeaking his mind, said.
Under the law, the identity of a rape victim cannot bedisclosed and printing or publishing the name or any matterwhich may make known the identity of any person against whomrape is committed is an offence under section 228-A of IndianPenal Code.
His comments also came close on the heels of Delhi Policeregistering a case against an English daily for publishingmaterial which could lead to the identification of the victim.
Tharoor's comments sparked instant reactions on Twitterwith people supporting and questioning his suggestions.
"Why are you after creating honours, idols and templesagain instead of making real changes to criminal justicesystem?" Chirdeep, one of the users, asked.
Anil Wanvari, however, wrote: "A good suggestion. This isexactly what I had recommended four days ago. Cheers!"
The girl was gangraped and brutally assaulted allegedlyby six persons in a moving bus in south Delhi on December 16.
She died in a Singapore hospital on December 29.