“There should be death penalty or life term for accused above the age of 15 years in such (heinous crimes),” Kejriwal told reporters. “Since CrPC and IPC are subjects in concurrent list over which Delhi Government has executive powers, GoM will examine and submit a report on whether Delhi Government can set up special police stations to register and investigate crime against women in those cases where women do not get satisfactory response from local police stations,” the chief minister added.
Kejriwal, on Monday also announced the formation of a panel of ministers comprising the Deputy Chief Minister and Law Minister Manish Sisodia and Home Minister Satyender Jain to examine the possibility of enhancing punishment to life imprisonment or death in cases of the rape of minors. He added that the state government will appoint special prosecutors in rape cases and would request fast-tracking of such cases.
The panel, headed by law minister Manish Sisodia, will submit its report in 15 days. The Aam Aadmi Party leader said that the main reason for brutal attacks on women – rapes in particular – were on the rise in Delhi was because criminals had no fear of the law.
“Rapists know nothing will happen to them,” Kejriwal said. “I don’t think all the bad people live only in Delhi, and that people living in places like Kolkata, New York, London or Varanasi are saints. It is just that the fear of law is not there in Delhi.”
Arvind Kejriwal had on Sunday launched a fierce attack on PM Narendra Modi saying he will not let him sleep “peacefully” if “jungle raj prevails”. Kejriwal urged Modi not to remain “stubborn” and hand over law and order control to the city government for at least one year, a demand he made on Sunday as well.
“We will not allow the Prime Minister to sleep peacefully if women in Delhi do not get proper safety and the present trend of rapes continues. That is guaranteed,” Kejriwal said. “The PM must understand that I am not (previous chief minister) Sheila Dikshit. I will not remain silent,” he said.