Don't politicise gangrape incident: Sheila Dikshit

Even as the gangrape of a woman in a moving bus continues to trigger outrage and protests across the country, Delhi chief minister Shiela Dikshit said today such incidents should not be "politicised".

Even as the gangrape of a woman in a moving bus continues to trigger outrage and protests across the country, Delhi chief minister Shiela Dikshit said on Wednesday such incidents should not be "politicised".

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"Such issues should not be politicised. That's what we are trying to avoid. We will gain nothing by politicising it ... If we are really concerned and feel the pain and anguish, we should do away with it," Dikshit told reporters.

On letter United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi had written on the issue to the prime minister and the home minister, Dikshit said, "She (Sonia Gandhi) has stated great anguish that this has happened and said that even as she understands that the police comes under the jurisdiction of union home ministry, she has said whatever can be done (by the Delhi government) it should be deliberated upon, so that such things do not occur again."

The chief minister said she had received the exact details of the incident and that the case would be tried in a special fast-track court.

Earlier Wednesday, police used water-canons to disperse protesters marching towards the chief minister's residence.

"I have no issues in meeting people and have asked them (protesters) to send two-three people," she said.

The 23-year-old woman, gang-raped by half-a-dozen men in a moving bus here Sunday night, is now battling for life in hospital.

The men also tortured her before dumping her on the road. Her male friend was also thrashed and thrown out of the bus along with her.

Five people have so far been arrested for the crime.