Such incidents a setback to society: J P Aggarwal

Interview with Delhi Pradesh Congress chief and Member of Parliament

J P Aggarwal, Delhi Pradesh Congress chief and Member of Parliament from north-east Delhi, speaks to Kavita Chowdhury on the Delhi child rape incident. Edited excerpts:

The horrific rape of a five-year-old child, a few months after the December 16 gang-rape case, has again shamed the capital.
It is an anti-social act committed by an individual. It should be condemned and criticised by everyone. Such incidents are a setback to society and demoralise people.

The general impression is Delhi is an unsafe city and the law-and-order situation here is deteriorating everyday.

You are saying this; no one else is saying so. By one incident alone, you cannot say the city is unsafe. We in Parliament are trying to pass the anti-rape Bill.

But the anti-rape Bill has been cleared by Parliament.
Yes, the anti-rape Bill has been passed, and we are trying to make the laws stringent for such cases.

How do you explain the action of the Delhi police after the incident? They advised the parents to be silent on the matter.
People's anger and popular sentiment is understandable. It was expressed at the protests at India Gate earlier, too. But what about those who advocate parole for rapists? They should be condemned and criticised. There is a committee that has recommended rapists should be given parole.

Are you referring to the Verma committee?

I think such suggestions of such committees should be criticised.

Do you think the image of the Congress government has taken a hit?
I do not think so. Even when Parliament was discussing the anti-rape Bill, I had publicly demanded three things. First, rapists should be publicly hanged. Second, there should be fast-track courts and time-bound trials for rape cases and third, rapists should be socially ostracised.

Is it a failure of the Congress government and the chief minister?
I think you should ask the chief minister that. All questions relating to administration should be put to her.

There have been widespread demonstrations and protests across the city, even in front of Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde's house.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi has condemned the incident in the strongest words, and the whole of the Congress feels the same.