Massive protests over Delhi gang rape, PM meets Shinde

Minister of state for home RPN Singh said police had been asked to exercise maximum restraint and the government was acting on people's demands.

The minister told a news channel that police could not allow people to break barricades and enter government buildings.

Calling for calm, he said there was no police action at places where protesters were peaceful.

Some people, he said, were trying to make it an unruly mob.



"I'm not justifying use of teargas," RPN Singh said but added that there were attempts to break barricades in the sensitive area close to the President's house and other key government offices.

"Government is hearing them (the protesters) loud and clear," he said.

Police would seek maximum punishment for the guilty in the gang rape case and strict steps were being taken to ensure safety of women, he added.

Police have arrested all the six accused in the case.

The rape victim is currently battling for her life in a hospital here.

RPN Singh said the government was willing to talk to the people but the protest should be orderly.

But the protesters, which included school students, lambasted police action and said they would stay put.

"We were protesting in a peaceful manner. They started beating us. Is this democracy? We are just demanding a strong law," Ritika, a college student, said.

"We are not afraid of police action. We'll come here daily till we get justice," said Ruchi, another student.

"Why teargas shells; why lathicharge; why water cannons? We are students, not terrorists. Why so much police here; why don't they stand on the road to stop crime?" she added.

Protestors were carrying posters and banners.

"My tight top, high heels are not an invitation," read one poster.

Another read: "Law of zero tolerance for rapists."

The protesters started arriving at India Gate since early morning and were joined by former army chief Gen VK Singh.

They then began marching towards the high-security Rashtrapati Bhavan on Raisina Hill but were stopped by security personnel, who had put up barricades.

Outrage has been swelling across the country after the woman was tortured and subjected to brutal gang rape in a moving private bus on December 16 in Delhi while she and a male friend were going home after watching a film.

PM MEETS HOME MINISTER

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday directed home minister Sushilkumar Shinde to ensure sense of security in Delhi and see that incidents like last Sunday's gang rape do not recur.

The directive came when Shinde called Singh to brief him on the situation in the aftermath of the gang-rape incident, sources said.

Shinde told the Prime Minister that he was personally monitoring the situation.

Sources said the Prime Minister told Shinde that he should ensure a sense of security in the capital, whose law and order is the direct responsibility of the home minister.

Singh asked Shinde to take all measures to see that there is no recurrence of the incidents like the recent gang rape of 23-year-old girl who was also brutally assaulted by the six accused.
Input - India Today