Over the last few days, the country has been reeling under some really heinous crimes and atrocities against women.
With justice being delayed in most of these cases, people’s patience has been running thin.
So when recently, President Ram Nath Kovind gave his approval for death penalty for those found guilty of raping girls below the age of 12 years, people were elated.
According to a report by The Hindu, the minimum punishment in rape cases of women has been increased from 7-10 years to extendable to life imprisonment.
The DCW Chief also ended her fast at 2 PM today.
“I was fighting alone but then I was supported by people across the country. I think this is a historical victory in independent India. I congratulate everyone on this victory,” she said when speaking to TOI.
The Twitterati too was ready with responses.
What Kathua case could make the govt do in less than 15 days, Assam couldn’t make them do in years. Finally, we have arrived but why only death penalty for child rapists? Why not for all the rapists?#DeathForChildRapists
— Sonam Mahajan (@AsYouNotWish) April 21, 2018
After #JuvenileJusticeAmendment Act,2015,which lowered trial age for heinous crimes like rape&murder from 18 to 16years& now,ordinance for death penalty to child rapists&setting up fast track courts, @narendramodi led gov does what it does!Fake,placard carrying brigade,you there?
— Sanju Verma (@Sanju_Verma_) April 21, 2018
BREAKING: Ordinance promulgated, death penalty for rape of children under 12.
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) April 21, 2018
I thank and congratulate PM Shri @narendramodi as well as the Cabinet for the historic ordinance on women’s safety. I welcome the provision of death penalty for rape of any girl below 12 years and increasing punishment from 10 to 20 years if a girl below 16 years is violated.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 21, 2018
The minimum punishment in case of rape of women has been increased and death penalty for rape of children below 12 yrs age: approved 👍👏@narendramodi sir we wholeheartedly welcome the decision and I wanna thank💐 as the voice of all the women of India#HopingForANewAndSafeIndia pic.twitter.com/o61M0W86Px
— Aarti Sharma (@Aartiii_) April 22, 2018
We’ve always had death penalty for murder.
Did it deter the facilitators and perpetrators of the 1984 Sikh Massacre?Did it deter the facilitators and perpetrators of the 2002 Gujarat Genocide?Did it deter the Governments and Security Forces from carrying out fake encounters?— Sanjiv Bhatt (IPS) (@sanjivbhatt) April 22, 2018
Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s decision of death penalty to child rapists was Remarkable indeed. Prevention is better than cure. The Legal system must be strengthened to expedite the cases without any political interference. Now it got implemented nation wide.
— salil sand (@isalilsand) April 22, 2018
Post Nirbhaya, we made major amendments to relevant sections of the IPC. Now we have the death penalty for child rapists. Laws alone don’t deter criminals. We have to change India’s patriarchal society. To start, can we stop politicising & communalising violence against women?
— Milind Deora (@milinddeora) April 22, 2018
India to introduce death penalty f/ rape of children. Sweden is very open to outside influence & this is excellent to benchmark & start applying. #ModiInSweden #UNSCinSweden pic.twitter.com/zeLGoB0ZBP
— Mikael Sollenberg (@MikaelSM15) April 22, 2018
India is set to introduce the death penalty to people who rape kids under 12 years of age. With this new ruling, India already has stronger rape laws than America now.
— Carlos (@bIazingxmexican) April 22, 2018
Will this new decision make a difference? Only time will tell
