Action on Verma panel's report on rape laws sought

New Delhi, Jan 26 (IANS) Over 500 people, including college students, Saturday gathered here at Mandi House and marched to Jantar Mantar demanding immediate implementation of the recommendations of the Justice J.S. Verma Committee on rape laws.

"We want Justice Verma's recommendations to be implemented in the laws dealing with sexual offences as soon as possible," said Leena Jha, 25-year-old college student at Jantar Mantar.

"The things will be changed definitely. Our protest will go on till the demands are met," said Leena Pegu, a student from the northeast.

The march, which was led by students of various colleges of Delhi, began around 2 p.m.

near Mandi House and ended nearly two hours later at Jantar Mantar in central Delhi.

Geeta Shah, a 35-year-old-woman and call centre employee, said: "It is the first time in 40 years that a committee which was formed to recommend measures to improve women related offences submitted its report within 29 days."

This is a time for change in laws, she said.

The Justice J.S. Verma panel, set up by the government last month to review laws to provide for speedier justice and enhanced punishment in cases of aggravated sexual assault, submitted its report to the government Wednesday.

The panel was set up in the wake of the outrage over the gruesome gang-rape of a 23-year-old trainee physiotherapist here Dec 16, 2012. She died 13 days later.

Do you think the government will take action on this report?

I don't believe it will.

The government will set up another committee to suggest action to be taken on this report.

This committee will consist of all those MPs and their relatives who have charges of rape and other heinous crimes against their names.

And thus the play acting will go on.

How can you expect a thief to catch a thief?