NEW DELHI: Concerned at the rape of a woman by a cab driver on a secluded road here, the Centre is coming out with a detailed plan to make deserted areas in the national capital more safe.
While making a statement in the Rajya Sabha, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said: “We have already identified 255 sensitive isolated locations in Delhi where cases of rapes and crimes are all time high and increased patrolling and strict vigilance there. We will again look for more such places if any and if required extra policing. I have asked the concerned officials to come out with a detailed plan.”
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.
Rajnath said that till November, 25,000 rape cases were registered from across the country, which was a “national shame”. Sharing concerns of the members, Singh said that as a Home Minister, he was “pained” over such incidents.
Rajnath said the government was not in favour of banning taxi services but wanted to regulate their operations. The government’s intentions should not be questioned in this regard, he added.
Making a suo motu statement, Singh said it would be ensured that all necessary steps were taken to bring the offender to justice.
Earlier, Congress’s Rajani Patel slammed the government for not taking forward the UPA’s plan to publicly name rape convicts on a website. She said that while the BJP had made tall promises, it couldn’t match its actions to its words. Her colleagues Viplove Thakur and Vijaylaxmi Sadho echoed similar sentiments.
Speaking from the treasury benches, BJP’s Vijay Goel said that it as commendable for Delhi police to catch the accused in three days. CPM’s TN Seema also asked why the Prime Minister’s Office had shot down the plan to have a rape crisis intervention in every district as per the plan of the earlier government. “Abolish the Women and Child Development Ministry if the PMO has to decide on even WCD (issues),” she said, half jokingly.
RS Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said the whole House condemned the “heinous crime”. “This is an issue to be seen above politics. I am sure the Government will take all necessary steps to ensure that the culprits are properly punished.” he said.