New Delhi, Dec. 30 (ANI): Thousands of students and activists, mostly girls held a candle-light protest march around Delhi University's North Campus and nearby areas, demanding stringent laws to ensure harshest punishment for sexual offenders.
Amid persistent nationwide protest against the brutal gang rape and torture of the 23-year-old student, which led to her death after battling for life for 13 days, the All India Student Association (AISA), the All India Progressive Women Association (AIPWA) and the Revolutionary Youth Association (RYA) had given a call for the march, in which several other organisations also participated and raise voice against sexual harassments.
Holding placards, posters, banners, and shouting slogans for 'women liberation' and 'freedom for women' the protestors marched from Vishwavidyalaya Metro station to Ambedkar Statue at Delhi University's North Campus through Vijaynagar and Kamlanagar.
"We will have to promise ourselves that the movement will not stop. In fact we are trying to reclaim space for women. On the night of December 31we will organize events at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), which will sound out people on how public space belongs to both men and women. We will also demand very strict laws for custodial and marital rapes," added Sucheta De, general secretary, AISA.
"It's time to reflect on what has gone by. We can never get over the barbaric act that cut her young life short. It's time to think about women's position in society and the various ways in which she faces inequality and injustice," said Kavita Krishnan, secretary, AIPWA
"Her (Delhi gang rape victim) fight has inspired us. This year there is nothing happy about the New Year. We at DU (Delhi University) will take the pledge that next year there won't be any sexual violence. She will stay on in our protests and campaigns," said Sunny Kumar, Delhi state secretary, AISA.
"We want freedom, freedom to move around anytime anywhere, freedom to study, freedom to talk and laugh, freedom to do whatever we want. We will not tolerate sexual assault anymore. We want zero tolerance towards sexual harassment," said Sruti, a student at Delhi University.
Earlier today, thousands of demonstrators at the Jantar Mantar drew posters and banners, and condoled the demise of the 23-year-old gang-rape victim, who was cremated here early this morning in the presence of her family, some government dignitaries and officials.
A 'havan' was also held at the Jantar Mantar, with priests performing prayers invoking peace for the departed soul and protection for the women of the country.
The 23-year-old girl, who was gang raped and brutally assaulted allegedly by six men in a moving bus in South Delhi on the night of December 16, breathed her last at Singapore"s Mount Elizebeth hospital on Saturday at around 2:15 a.m. on Saturday. (ANI)
null
|
|
Comments:
