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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condemned violence against women and vowed to mete out “tough punishment” to perpetrators of sexual crimes after the rape and killing of a junior medic shocked Indians and fuelled calls for greater action by the government and police.
Modi also urged neighbouring Bangladesh to ensure the safety of minority Hindus, saying Indians were “worried” about their plight, after protesters overthrew the government of his ally Sheikh Hasina last week.
“There’s outrage against the atrocities being committed against our mothers, sisters and daughters,” Modi said, speaking to dignitaries and crowds at New Delhi’s Red Fort to mark India’s Independence Day. He added that crimes against women “should be investigated expeditiously”.
“The strictest punishment must be handed to those committing these monstrous acts,” Modi said. “This is necessary to create faith in society.”
The Indian leader’s remarks came as large protests have spread across India following the rape and murder last week of a 31-year-old medic in one of Kolkata’s oldest medical college hospitals, where she was on night duty. The victim’s identity has not ben released, in keeping with Indian law on sexual assault cases, and no suspects have been charged.
Thousands of doctors and health service providers have gone on strike, demanding justice and better protection of women, and India’s federal police have taken over the investigation.
Ranjana Kumari, director of the Centre for Social Research and president of Women Power Connect, a network of women’s organisations, said Modi’s remarks addressing the incident were “important”, but added: “At the same time, when you look at the reality of what is going on, there is a complete neglect of women’s security and safety in the country.”
“The effectiveness of his message will be seen in actual implementation on both the central and state government level,” she said.
Modi has vowed to improve protections for women since taking power in 2014, but women’s groups say his government has done too little to address widespread gender violence.
Modi’s remarks on Bangladesh were his most extensive since the ousting of Sheikh Hasina by a student-led uprising earlier this month. Religious groups in the country have reported a surge in attacks on minorities, including Hindus, who make up about 8 per cent of the population.
Modi said that “1.4bn Indians are worried about the safety of Hindus” in Bangladesh.
“Indians want the security of Hindus and minorities there to be ensured,” he added.
The address, which marked the 77th anniversary of freedom from British colonial rule, was Modi’s biggest public statement since the Indian leader was re-elected to a third five-year term earlier this year.
But his Bharatiya Janata party lost its parliamentary majority, making it reliant on smaller coalition parties for the first time in its decade in power.
In the past, Modi has used the speech to make political promises and articulate policy goals, last year declaring a goal of making India a developed country by 2047. He dwelt on that theme again on Thursday, saying millions of Indians had provided suggestions on how to realise this ambition.
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