Parties demand strict laws to deal with crime against women

NEW DELHI: Political parties were today united in demanding stronger laws to deal with crime against women as President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh joined the nation in mourning the death of the 23-year-old gangrape victim.

Describing the girl as a "brave daughter of India" and a "true hero", Mukherjee said all steps to bring the perpetrators of this "ghastly crime" to justice should be taken to ensure that her death will not be in vain.

Singh hoped that the entire political class and civil society will set aside narrow sectional interests and agenda to make India a demonstrably safer place to live in.

"We have already seen the emotions and energies this incident has generated. These are perfectly understandable reactions from a young India and an India that genuinely desires change. It would be a true homage to her memory if we are able to channelise these emotions and energies into a constructive course of action," he said

Both Mukherjee and Singh said the country should resolve that her death will not be in vain.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi also condoled the death of the gangrape victim.

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley sought better laws and an environment where women are safe.

"We must now introspect as to how we can improve our laws, our judicial processes and most importantly the consciousness of the citizenry which creates a better environment where women can live with dignity," Jaitley said.

The girl, who was gang-raped and brutally assaulted by six men in a moving bus in south Delhi, died in a Singapore hospital early this morning after battling for life for the past 13 days.