Indian society too needs to act: Ansari on Delhi gangrape

ON BOARD SPECIAL AIRCRAFT: With the gangrape and murder of a Delhi girl triggering a discourse on treatment of women in India, Vice President Hamid Ansari today said the incident reflected "an ailment" afflicting the Indian society and the people need to act as much as the government.

Ansari said the gangrape and brutal attack on the 23-year old girl in New Delhi was a "horrible" incident and should make India hang its head in shame.

He, however, insisted that this problem is one that has emanated from the society and, along with the government and lawmakers, the people will also have to deal with it.

"That incident was very horrible. We should hang our heads in shame as a country and as a people," Ansari told reporters on board a special aircraft on his way to Vietnam.

The Vice President, who is on a four-day state visit to Vietnam, said the responsibility of facing such challenges lies with the people as well.

"What we have to do is not just for the government but also the people. Government and lawmakers will do their work. But this is an ailment of the society and the society will have to deal with it," Ansari said.

The December 16 incident resulted in massive protests in Delhi and calls for strengthening the law.

Ansari said he had condemned the crime on January 7 at a NCC camp programme in the capital. PTI RC WAJ AKJ