Indian PM Modi slams rising rape cases on nations’ 68th Independence Day
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi spoke out to improve the lives of Indian citizens and the rising rape cases in India during his first Independence Day speech since taking office in May 2014.
The prime minister called on parents to treat their sons and daughters equally, claiming that a change in attitudes is what is needed to help put an end to these attacks.
Modi said: “After all, a person who is raping is somebody’s son… As parents have we asked our sons where he is going? We need to take responsibility to bring our sons who have deviated from the right path, to bring them back.”
In his 45-minute speech at the Red Fort in old Delhi Modi expressed that the nation’s “head hangs in shame” at the reports of sexual assaults and surging rape cases in the country.
Anger over the rising violence against women has steadily increased since the fatal gang-rape of a female student on a local bus in New Delhi in 2012. Although this incident gained international attention but most of them do not.
Mass public protests after the 2012 rape case have prompted tougher legislation to be enacted including doubling prison terms for rapists to 20 years and criminalising stalking and trafficking of women. However, the crime figures still remain shockingly high in India.
Addressing his countrymen Modi said: “The law will do its job and do it strictly but as a society every parent also has a responsibility to teach their sons the difference between right and wrong.”
The PM also spoke about improving the lives of ordinary citizens as he addressed the problem of poverty. He also commented on the high rate of suicides among the farmers of India, a figure which has topped over 200,000 and has seen a further dramatic increase since Monsanto entered the Indian seed market.
The premier also announced that the Planning Commission, which has been in place and guided the country’s economy for decades would be replaced, with a new undefined federal institution fairly soon.
Modi said: “We will have a prime minister’s people wealth scheme so that even the poorest of the poor can have a bank account of their own.”
After today’s speech it seems as though things will improve for the citizens of India and Modi’s government with their new formulated plans will boost Indian economy.
Kerry Raymond
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