Condemning the gang rape of a woman in the National Capital – Delhi

Sir,

On Wednesday morning the Indian capital awoke to an outrageous and preposterous crime. India the largest democracy in the
world, with the longest written constitution in the world with elaborate provisions guaranteeing right to life and liberty
were put to shame.

A woman who left her house in the quest for a normal and even mundane day was scarred for life all because of the powerless,
incapable, and incompetent Delhi police. A woman who came to Delhi from Mizoram in the pursuit to earn an honest living was
victim to the atrocities of four drunken men.

“He who does not prevent a crime when he can, encourages it.”

A woman is raped in the Indian Capital every 24 hours. In the year 2009 there were 522 cases of molestation and 469 cases of
rape. 2,359 rape cases registered by Delhi Police between early 1999 and June 2004. A 36 year old Swiss Diplomat was abducted
and raped in her car on October 14, 2003. On March 15, 2004 a businessman at Deer Park in Safdarjung Enclave allegedly raped
a 20 year old Fiji student. On March 17, 2004 a 59 year old Australian tourist was allegedly sexually assaulted and murdered
by a taxi driver near IGI Airport, barely a couple of hours after she landed from Brisbane.
Delhi is now the official “Rape capital of India”

Article 21 of the Indian constitution guarantees Right to Life and personal liberty. However the right to life enshrined in
the constitution means something more than a mere survival or animal existence. It includes right to live with human dignity.

Rape is a crime against the basic human rights. The state of women has become so deplorable that a woman lives in fear of
half the human race.

Honourable Mr. Justice S. Ahmad observed that “unfortunately, a woman in our country, belongs to a class or group of society
who are in a disadvantaged position on account of several social barriers and impediments and have therefore, been victims of

tyranny at the hands of men with whom they, unfortunately, under the Constitution “enjoy, equal status”.
Women also have the right to life and liberty; they also have the right to be respected and treated as equal citizens. Their

honour and dignity cannot be touched or violated. They also have the right to lead an honorable and peaceful life.
Rape has often been described as a “Beginning of a nightmare” .The Indian people are at their wits end. There are many
questions that the Delhi Government and Law enforcement agencies need to answer. Why since the year 1999 have the number of
rapes been on an increase? What steps has the government taken to prevent this? How are they going to guarantee the
protection of women?

Indian women are waiting for answers and are tired of waiting. We are tired of waiting for action. We condemn these heinous
crimes that regularly take place in the backyard of the corridors of power. We the BJP Mahila Morcha now ask the authorities
not to aid and abet criminals with your in effective enforcement. We urge you to do the job you took an oath to do, protect
the people you took the responsibility to protect. Do not allow the soul of women to be degraded and defiled. If this is
allowed to continue the victim will no longer be the woman but will be humanity.

Yours Faithfully,
Smriti Irani
Mahila Morcha National President
Bharatiya Janata Party