NEW DELHI - "Shapath lo, balaatkaar mukt Bharat ki" (Pledge for a rape-free India), reads a banner at Jantar Mantar in the heart of the national capital. Inscribed below is "Damini", referring to the Dec 16, 2012, gang-rape victim. Next to it stands a lit lamp, leaving you feeling calm despite the sweltering heat. For more than 500 days now, the site has been the camp of crusaders for "16 December Kranti",
a campaign which demands justice for the gang-rape victim, a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern. "It started after all the protesters were pushed away from India Gate to Jantar Mantar in Dec 2012. We had a lot of people with us for a couple of months then, but the number soon waned. They still support us, but cannot devote the amount of time they used to earlier," 26-year-old Rahul Mishra, who started the campaign, said. "We came here on Dec 24, 2012, and now it's been more than 500 days. We are not just sitting here; we are here to make ourselves heard and bring about a change," Mishra, a software engineer, added while sitting under a makeshift canopy. The campaign, which mostly involves young working professionals who join after their working hours, demands a "rape free India" and expeditious justice to victims of rape and acid attacks.
"The death penalty should be given in all rape and acid attack cases. Additionally, no mercy petitions should be accepted in such cases. Most importantly, no juvenile must be granted the immunity of the Juvenile Justice Act and must be tried as an adult if arrested in cases of rape or acid attack," Mishra added, listing the various reforms and amendments that make up the group's demands. Echoing similar sentiments, Santosh Bora added that though people want change, they are not as aggressive as they should be. "People wait for such a problem to happen to them. It is only then that they realize the gravity of the issue. This is what makes the situation an unfortunate one," said Bora, 27, also an active campaigner.
He added that since the campaign and its outcome became priority, he was forced to leave his job as a human resource professional. The duo stated that in the past 500 days, the group has protested at close to 50 sites in the national capital and even neighboring states like Punjab to mobilize people against such social perils.
"After 'Damini', there was 'Gudiya' and then so many other cases followed. We try to reach out to the victims and their families and extend whatever support we can. If needed, we also help the families register a FIR," said Mishra.
On being asked their modus operandi, they said that the group speaks to the people of the locality, organizes street plays and also holds candlelight marches. (IANS)
"The death penalty should be given in all rape and acid attack cases. Additionally, no mercy petitions should be accepted in such cases. Most importantly, no juvenile must be granted the immunity of the Juvenile Justice Act and must be tried as an adult if arrested in cases of rape or acid attack," Mishra added, listing the various reforms and amendments that make up the group's demands. Echoing similar sentiments, Santosh Bora added that though people want change, they are not as aggressive as they should be. "People wait for such a problem to happen to them. It is only then that they realize the gravity of the issue. This is what makes the situation an unfortunate one," said Bora, 27, also an active campaigner.
He added that since the campaign and its outcome became priority, he was forced to leave his job as a human resource professional. The duo stated that in the past 500 days, the group has protested at close to 50 sites in the national capital and even neighboring states like Punjab to mobilize people against such social perils.
"After 'Damini', there was 'Gudiya' and then so many other cases followed. We try to reach out to the victims and their families and extend whatever support we can. If needed, we also help the families register a FIR," said Mishra.
On being asked their modus operandi, they said that the group speaks to the people of the locality, organizes street plays and also holds candlelight marches. (IANS)
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