Dikshit says she personally favours gallows for rapists

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today termed the "horrific assault" on the 23-year-old girl as "most painful" incident for her since she assumed the top post in the capital and said she personally favoured death penalty for rapists.

She said she hated Delhi being called "rape capital" of India and stressed that "something concrete" must be done to instill confidence among women in the city against the growing fear of insecurity.

"Yes, personally I favour that (death penalty) for rapists. We must ensure stringent punishment for perpetrators of such henious crime so that it acts as a deterrent," Dikshit told reporters here when asked whether she personally supported gallows for rape convicts.

Justifying the spontaneous protest across the city following the gang-rape of the para-medical student here on Sunday, Dikshit said her government was ready to take her abroad for better treatment.

"I am shocked at the way she was assaulted. It is really horrifying. We are ready to take her to any part of the world for better treatment. She is in a very critical condition. It is the most painful incident that has taken place since I became Chief Minister of Delhi," she said.
"We cannot compensate the suffering of the young brave girl. But, we will do everything possible to save her life," Dikshit said.

The Chief Minister's comments came as pain and anger spilled onto Delhi streets for the fifth day in a row over the brutal assult on the girl whose condition continues to be critical although she has been taken off the ventilator.

Large number of women activists and students today held protests outside Rashtrapati Bhavan, Prime Minister's Office and Home Ministry.