Delhi govt should accord state funeral to gang rape victim: Praful Patel

NEW DELHI: Hailing her as a braveheart, Union Minister Praful Patel today said the Delhi government should accord the 23-year-old gangrape victim a state funeral as a mark of respect to women of the country.

"Saddened by the loss of a braveheart. Delhi government should accord her a state funeral as a mark of respect to her and to India's womanhood," Patel, who is also NCP Vice-President, said in a condolence message.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said "our thoughts and hearts are with the family of the braveheart who left us. This is a time for mourning. We appeal to all our brothers and sisters to maintain peace and calm and pray."

"This would be a true tribute to the bravery and fortitude of the departed soul," Tewari added.

The girl, who was gang-raped by six men in a moving bus in south Delhi on December 16, breathed her last in a Singapore hospital early this morning after battling for life for the past 13 days.