Rajya Sabha condemns setting afire of Unnao rape survivor

The Rajya Sabha on Thursday unanimously condemned the setting afire of a rape survivor from Unnao in Uttar Pradesh with chairman M Venkaiah Naidu saying "we must send out a signal" to the entire country that on such incidents, action should be taken promptly, swiftly, adequately so that similar things do not recur.

The Upper House of Parliament took up a discussion on the incident in the afternoon after proceedings were adjourned for half-an-hour amid an uproar by opposition parties, mainly the Congress.

Summing up the discussion, Naidu said, "The entire House condemns the incident.... I got in touch with the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh...to know the fact. He has explained to me that some incident happened like this in the early hours of today morning, around 4.30 am."
He also said, "I am not allowing a general discussion now and we will close it here with a caution to all concerned to act immediately, swiftly, and also with an appeal to the society to isolate such people and stand by the victims, and also stand by the administration whenever they take immediate action and bring pressure on the persons concerned that they cannot get away with such incidents and all."
Vandana Chavan of the NCP said, "The incident is the worst where a girl, a rape victim, going to court has been burnt alive. What can be worse than this? Women have to be safeguarded."