Indian Prime minister Narendra Modi has delivered a strong message against the increasing incidents of rape in the country, saying strict measures will be taken to combat crimes against women.
During his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio programme, the Prime minister said the recently passed Criminal Act Amendment Bill will help tackle crime against women.
“No civil society can tolerate any kind of injustice towards women of the country. The nation will not tolerate those committing rapes. With this in mind, Parliament has made a provision of strictest punishment by passing the Criminal Act Amendment Bill,” said Modi.
“Those guilty of rape will get a minimum sentence of 10 years and those found guilty of raping girls below the age of 12 years will be awarded the death sentence,” said Modi, emphasising the severity of the law.
Rape is the fourth most common crime against women in India, and according to a recent Thomson Reuters Foundation survey, India is the most dangerous country for sexual violence against women.
According to India’s National Crime Records Bureau data, 338,954 crimes were reported against women. This included 38,947 rapes in 2016.
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