'Will support harshest laws for rapists'

NCP chief Sharad Pawar described Delhi gang-rape incident as “unfortunate” and said that the culprit carries on with his life without getting punished, Pradip Kumar Maitra reports.

Addressing a state-level convention of the women’s wing of NCP at Amravati, party chief Sharad Pawar described the Delhi gang-rape incident as “unfortunate” and said that while a rape victim is stigmatised, the culprit carries on with his life without getting punished.

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Pawar said such offenders must get stringent punishment, which would act as a deterrent. “If the Union government proposes such a bill, the NCP will support it. The NCP is in favour of women’s rights and will fight for them,” he added.

Pawar also backed the women reservation in Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and state assemblies. “It is unfortunate that we are unable to adopt the women’s quota bill in Parliament. Reservation for women is necessary in various sectors.”

“In India, we are not still mentally prepared to give the women their due share,” he said.