JNU students blame Sheila Dikshit, police for state of affairs

Students of Jawaharlal Nehru University and women activists blocked traffic for a few hours near Vasant Vihar police station on Tuesday, demanding speedy probe and justice in the gang rape incident.

The condition of the 23-year-old victim, who has been admitted to Safdarjung Hospital, is critical.

“We are angry. We want to know why rape victims don’t get speedy justice.

How is it that the chief minister, who also happens to be a woman and is aware of rapes taking place in the city, is now talking about fast track courts?” said Shrishti Sharma, International Relations student of JNU.

“How many more gang rapes are required for politicians, the law and other stakeholders to start talking about tackling it,” said Sharma, adding that Dikshit should take responsibility to see that fast track courts don’t become yet another sham.

JNU students’ union has announced a meeting on Wednesday at India Gate to discuss women’s safety.

“Despite a massive uproar both outside and inside Parliament, the response of the home minister and Delhi Police commissioner is disappointing and routine. Two of the culprits are yet to be apprehended, while the victim is fighting for life,” said JNUSU president V Lenin Kumar.

“The lack of safety for women in Delhi is based in systemic apathy of police, home ministry and the Delhi CM towards crimes against women. We want the criminal justice system to provide immediate justice in this case, but we also demand general policy-level steps to improve the safety situation,” he said.

Residents of Vasant Vihar and nearby areas also joined the protest. A senior citizen broke down during the demonstration and said, “I want my daughter and my granddaughter to be safe when they are out . I don’t want to constantly keep worrying about them if they a little late. Residents will cooperate, but police need to start planning what exactly needs to be done,” she said.

Women activists also joined the protest, condemning the behaviour of the state towards rape victims, the public judging victims by saying “they asked for it” and a police force that remains inaccessible to a majority women in the city.

“Police have to create an environment that they are here to help us, and not to further hararss us. Fear is missing in the minds of the culprits. Why?” said Delhi University student Vartika Vats, who also joined the protest.

“I don't know how they do it, but women in this city want to feel protected. Give us at least that much; it is the country's capital,” said Vats.

The protest site saw a huge number of people who started gathering from 9 am. JNUSU students tried to enter the police station but were prevented from doing so.