Cong welcomes SC verdict in Nirbhaya case

The Congress today welcomed the Supreme Court verdict upholding the death sentence awarded to the convicts in the sensational December 16, 2012 Nirbhaya gangrape-and-murder case, saying it will serve as a lesson for all those who attempt such crimes.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said that justice has prevailed in the case.

"Justice Prevails! #NirbhayaVerdict. The punishment is a lesson to all those, who attempt such horrid crimes. We stand by Nirbhaya's parents, as always, in this quest of justice! Hope government will now follow up to act decisively on issues of women's safety (sic)," he said Twitter on Nirbhaya verdict.

Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi said when the incident brought the entire nation to a standstill and made all the people from every section of the society come forward in protest, the then UPA government had constituted the Justice Verma Committee under which "we had said that those who commit such heinous crimes, will be punished severely".

"I am very certain that this will send a strong message across to all those people who believe that by committing such crimes, they can get away. It will send a strong message also to the women of the country that the Supreme Court of the country and the judiciary stand behind them firmly and strongly. I would like to thank the Supreme Court for taking this decision," she told reporters at the Congress headquarters.

She also hoped that the judgement will give a sense of security and safety among women that those behind such crimes would get exemplary punishment.

The Supreme Court today dismissed pleas filed by three out of the four convicts seeking review of its verdict upholding the death penalty awarded to them in the gangrape-and-murder case. The court said no grounds have been made out by them for review of the verdict.