Time for 'action' not 'Acts' to make India a 'zero rape' country: Jagdambika Pal

Congress Party leader Jagdambika Pal on Saturday called for political parties and state governments to unite in making India a 'zero rape' country, after a 22 year-old photojournalist was gang raped in Mumbai on Thursday evening.

"After the Delhi gang rape, what occurred with Damini, the harsh act which was made still hasn't deterred perpetrators of these kinds of crimes. Thus, I think the country now needs action more than it needs Acts. That action is happening," Pal said.

"I think that no matter where these incidents occur...no matter who the ruling party of the region is, there should be no politicization of the issue. Instead, wherever these incidents occur, the state governments should immediately announce their trials in fast track courts-within 15 days the arrests and chargesheet should be made, within a month the decision on the sentence of crime should be given-and then hand out exemplary punishments so that India can become a zero rape country," Pal added.

Endorsing that Mumbai, prior to Thursday's incident, was the country's safest city for women, Pal said that he had full faith that justice will be handed out severely and efficiently to the perpetrators.

"This is the first instance of this nature in Mumbai. Prior to this, Mumbai was considered to be the safest place for women in the country," Pal said.

"The Mumbai Police, the government, the Home Minister, the Chief Minister, have all taken up the seriousness of the incident. Within 24 hours, even though the Shakti Mills compound was abandoned, two arrests have been made and the rest will be done quickly as well. The Chief Minister announced that the case should be treated in a fast track court, which means that the harshest punishment will be handed out in the quickest time frame and hopefully act as a deterrent," he added.

Two arrests have been made in the case so far and there is a massive hunt by the Mumbai police to nab the other three accused.

The incident took place on August 22 in Lower Parel area where the 23-year-old woman had gone for an assignment.

She was working with an English Magazine as an intern. According to police, the men tied up the friend who was accompanying her and raped the woman.

The victim, who was admitted to Jaslok Hospital, had sustained multiple internal injuries. She is stated to be in a stable condition now.

The Centre has sought a detailed report on the gang rape incident.

Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde today said that he has spoken to the Commissioner of Police on the gang rape incident in Mumbai urging for stringent action.