Ministers at Cab meet press for enhanced security for women

During the meeting, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde also informed his Cabinet colleagues that an internal probe has been ordered into allegations of Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit that the Delhi Police tried to interfere in the recording of the statement of the rape victim. Delhi Police has refuted the charge.

Ministers like Kumari Selja said there was need to provide a sense of safety and security to women, according to sources privy to the deliberations.

Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari and Law Minister Ashwani Kumar are also learnt to have spoken on the issue.

Several ministers were of the view that the government should walk the extra mile in providing the best possible treatment to the rape victim.

Pawar wanted to know details about the incident and the action taken so far.

The police action against protesters around India Gate also came up for discussion.

The Cabinet also discussed the terms of reference of the Justice Usha Mehra Commission and some ministers felt that a delay in finalising the report should be avoided.

The commission has been asked to submit a report within three months.

Besides suggesting measures to enhance the safety of women in Delhi and NCR, the one-person Commission headed by the former judge of the Delhi High Court will try to reconstruct the sequence of events, identify lapses on the part of the police or any other authority or person and fix the responsibility.