BJP playing politics on Delhi rape issue: Digvijay

Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh today accused BJP of playing politics over the rape of a five-year-old in the capital.

Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh on Sunday accused BJP of playing politics over the rape of a five-year-old in the capital.

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Condemning the rape of the child, Singh said immediately after the December 16 gangrape incident in Delhi, the government had formed a committee headed by justice (retired) JS Verma to suggest stronger laws and an anti-rape law was passed.

"Unfortunately, I saw leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj again playing to the gallery. I think this is something that has to be taken seriously," Singh told reporters.

Swaraj, who visited the victim yesterday, has demanded that death penalty should be given to those guilty of raping minor girls or indulging in brutal rapes of women. She has demanded that the law be passed in this regard.

Singh, however, claimed the government is taking appropriate action and the whole picture should be looked at before arriving at any conclusions.

"If there is a 300 per cent increase in child sex abuse cases in last 1-2 years, this is a matter of concern for everybody. So, therefore, the law-makers, law enforcement agencies and members of civil society all have to get together and apply their mind and study as to what are the reasons behind this 300 per cent increase," he said.

He maintained that one should bear in mind that the police to population ratio in India is one of the lowest in the world.

"Population has increased but number of policemen have not increased. Hence, instead of playing politics we need to see things in totality," Singh said.