PM says guilty will be punished soon, Sonia seeks speedy justice
Nation 03:12
While Sonia Gandhi demanded speedy justice in the case, PM Manmohan Singh assured that the guilty will be brought to book.
"You have my assurance that our government is committed to bring the guilty to justice as soon as possible," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said while speaking at the Congress headquarters on the Congress Foundation Day on Friday.
Sonia Gandhi added that there was no celebration this foundation day for Congress and that she wished the 23-year-old survivor recovers and returns to India soon.
"Our thoughts are with the young woman who is fighting for life. We wish she comes back to us soon," Sonia Gandhi said.
Asked about the government's initiatives for speedy trial of rape accused, the Prime Minister said the government has appointed a committee under Justice J S Verma, former Chief Justice of India, to suggest ways and means for modifications in the laws related to crime against women.
"The Congress President has mentioned that we share the anguish and the anger of the country over this heinous crime. Our prayers are with the brave young girl and that best possible medical care is being provided to her," Dr Singh said.
He said that a committee under Justice Usha Mehra, a former Delhi High Court judge, has also been appointed to examine if there were any lapses on anybody's part in the aftermath of the incident.
"So, you have my assurance that our government is committed to bringing the guilty to justice as soon as possible," Singh said.
After unfurling the Congress flag earlier, Gandhi said, "Today is the anniversary of the foundation day of Indian National Congress and we remember all those great men and women, who fought for our freedom, to free our country from the British."
She said, "The 28th (of December) being a day so close to the New Year, we normally wish each other but not so today because our thoughts are with the young woman, who is fighting for her life after the barbarous attack on her".
The 23-year-old victim is currently being treated in a super-speciality hospital in Singapore at state expense.
Gandhi also held a meeting in her party office with the Prime Minister and senior ministers and Congress leaders including Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit and Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde.
Shinde was seen talking to Dikshit for quite sometime during the function.
Rahul Gandhi was not present during the ceremony marking the completion of 127 years of the formation of Congress.
Senior ministers and party leaders attended the programme. Similar programmes were organised in state and district party headquarters where leaders of respective regions participated.
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