Maliwal to end fast today, 'fight for women's safety' to continue

NEW DELHI: After nine consecutive days, Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Swati Maliwal on Saturday evening announced that she will end her hunger strike on Sunday afternoon at 2 pm, as the Union Cabinet approved an ordinance to introduce death penalty for rapist of children under the age of 12 years.

Maliwal has been on fast since April 13, demanding death penalty for rapists of children, after the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district and other ghastly rapes that took place recently.

"I am happy that, though after nine days, the central government has taken the first step to hang rapists of small children within six months," the DCW chief said, announcing she will break her fast on Sunday.

Her decision was greeted by boisterous applause from her supporters.

However, Maliwal said that though she is ending the fast, her struggle for women's safety will continue.

Earlier, Maliwal had written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ennumerating her demands related to punishment for rapists.

She further wrote had just changing the law is not enough, more important is its implementation and even more important is raising the police resources and their accountability.

"This is a victory of various Nirbhayas of our country. Since the Prime Minister has listened to us and listened to our country's voice, I have decided to end the fast." Maliwal said.

The outrage over rapes of children was triggered by two incidents in Kathua and Uttar Pradesh's Unnao district, after which a series of protests and candle marchs were witnessed across the country.

On Friday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also requested Maliwal to end her hunger strike.