Asian Age Correspondent
New Delhi, 39 December 2012. President Pranab Mukherjee, vice-president Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday mourned the death of the 23-year-old gangrape victim in Singapore.
Describing her as a “brave daughter of India”, President Mukherjee called on the authorities to ensure that the culprits in the case are brought to book. In his condolence message, he said, “She was a brave and courageous girl who fought till the very last minute for her dignity and her life. She is a true hero and symbolises the best in Indian youth and women. The nation will mourn the passing of this brave daughter of India.”
Even as he appealed for peace and calm, he added, “Let us resolve that this death will not be in vain. We will do everything possible to ensure that such an incident never happens again.”
Vice-president Ansari, while condoling the death, said that this death should be a wake up call for us as a society to focus on social norms and practices. He said, “This heart-rending tragedy would compel us as people to focus on social norms and practices which are violative of human rights and an impediment to progress in the modern world.”
He further said, “A young and promising life has been brutally snatched away in most tragic circumstances. Not only has the family lost a daughter and a sister, every Indian is today feeling the sense of loss as we all had come to identify with the brave heart as she fought valiantly for her life.”
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his condolence message called upon the political class and civil society to ensure that the country as a whole becomes a safe place for women to live in. He said, “I want to tell them (her family) and the nation that while she may have lost her battle for life, it is up to us all to ensure that her death will not have been in vain.” He added, “I hope that the entire political class and civil society will set aside narrow sectional interests and agenda to help us all reach the end that we all desire making India a demonstrably better and safe place for women to live in.”
Calling for channelising all the energy that has been generated by the ghastly incident into a constructive course of action, he said, “We have already seen the emotions and energies this incident has generated. These are perfectly understandable reactions from a young India and an India that genuinely desires change. It would be a true homage to her memory if we are able to channelise these emotions and energies into a constructive course of action.”
Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar called the girl a “powerful symbol” of the current battle to ensure justice for women.
She said, “In her untimely and sad demise, we have lost a courageous daughter of our country who faced life with tremendous strength and fortitude. She will continue to inspire us for all times to come.” Calling for turning the anger into creating a new India, she said her sacrifice should lead to the creation of “a new India, a new society where women are respected.”
