JOIN USBreaking his silence over the Kathua and Unnao gang-rapes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said no culprit will be spared and justice will be done.
"I want to assure the nation that no culprit will be spared, complete justice will be done. Our daughters will definitely get justice," Modi said after inaugurating a memorial to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar here.
Modi said the incidents that were being discussed for the past two days were an embarrassment to any civilised society. "As a society, as a country, we will be ashamed," the prime minister said referring to the incidents of rapes in Unnao and Kathua.
The prime minister has been facing flak for remaining silent on the incidents of rape in Kathua and Unnao, where the perpetrators of the crime were supported by a section of the BJP leadership.
Earlier, Congress president Rahul Gandhi had dared the prime minister to speak up on the horrific crimes. "Mr Prime Minister, your silence is unacceptable," Gandhi had said.
On Thursday night, Gandhi had led a midnight candlelight vigil at India Gate, where he was joined by hundreds of party workers and commoners alike to protest the rising incidents of crime against women.
The prime minister also asserted that the government would not allow the dilution of the SC/ST (prevention of atrocities) Act.
The Supreme Court had diluted the anti-atrocities law prompting the Opposition to attack the Modi government for not defending the law in the apex court.
"In 2015, we strengthened the law against atrocities on Dalits. We have increased the number of crimes against Dalits enlisted in the law from 22 to 47," he said.
Modi said special courts were being formed for the urgent hearing of cases involving torture on SC/ST community and the government has also decided to set up a commission for sub-categorisation of backward castes.
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