JNU students hold candlelight vigil outside Safdarjung Hospital

Students from Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University held a candlelight vigil on Thursday to express solidarity with the 23-year-old gang rape victim, who is admitted in Safdarjung hospital in a critical but stable condition.

Students from Jamia Millia Islamia and Indraprastha University also present.

The  candlelight vigil was organised by JNU Students’ Union calling concerned citizens outside Safdarjung hospital. “The victim is still critical. The anger about increasing cases of rapes in the city should have come out earlier, better late than never,” said a senior citizen Pratima Sengupta.

“The city realised that this rape goes against all the rhetorical reasoning which questions a woman’s morality. The fear of committing crimes against women is missing in the country.”

On Tuesday, students protested outside chief minister’s office. Several students were lathicharged and water cannons were used on them, injuring a few of them. Protests also took place in India Gate, Jantar Mantar, Rashtrapati Bhawan, and Saket Court.

On Monday, students blocked traffic outside the Vasant Vihar police station for few hours.
Delhi University Students’ Union held a candlelight march from All India Institute Medical of Medical Sciences Metro station to Safdarjung hospital.

Through the march we wish to change the attitude of people towards women so that they are not treated as objects of violence in the society, said a DUSU member.
The students are asking for speedy trial and justice for the victim.

“How can we still follow the same law which was applicable during the colonial era. The politicians need to get their act together instead of getting involved in scams after scams and filling their own pockets when the majority of the population is struggling to survive, and is being harassed, raped and killed,” said a DU student Ambika Kala.