Women groups protest anti-rape ordinance

"This ordinance is an eyewash. It is diluting the actual recommendations of Justice Verma committee. We want a bill based not on this ordinance but the panel's suggestions," said Kavita Krishnan, secretary of All India Progressive Women Association (AIPWA).

Sehba Farooqui, secretary of All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA), listed their demands which include recognising marital rape.

"While we wanted a gender specific definition of rape, government's ordinance has made it gender neutral. Also, Verma panel's recommendation that no sanction will be required if the armed forces personnel are accused of a crime against woman has been turned down," she said.

"We were also in favour of recommendation that recognised marital rape. But this ordinance instead of strengthening the law will derail the issue," Farooqui said.

She also said that government's permission should not be required to pursue cases where public servants are accused of rape.

"Why should the government decide which cases are fake. Let the courts take a call on that. Also, command responsibility should be fixed where the armed forces are involved," argued Krishnan.

The protesting groups said they will continue their demonstrations to build pressure on the government.

"The government might have wanted to push the ordinance to give a message that it is moving fast on the issue of violence against women. But this should happen in a transparent manner. We will not defuse the pressure and will continue to push for our demands," she added. MORE