| Font Size |
She said those guilty of such heinous crimes, which take place not only in Haryana but elsewhere too, must be "severely punished".
"Doshiyoon ko sakt saza milnee chaiyehein (the guilty must be severely punished)," Sonia told reporters in a brief interaction at village Sachha Khera, where she met the victim's family and assured them of all possible help.
She assured the family “speedy justice”, “safety and security” and “financial and social help”.
“She hugged me and said Sharmila is her daughter; and she will ensure that justice is delivered,” said Rajkali, victim's mother.
The victim Sharmila is survived by her father Balraj, mother Rajkali, grandfather Ramchander, grandmother Dhanpati, two brothers Mintu and Sahil, and four sisters including Mamta, Kalu, Poonam and Anjali. Sonia Gandhi spoke with each of them and assured them all sorts of help.
“She sat with us on a chair; and consoled us. She said it was equally disturbing for her. She said the government shall ensure that the accused get the most severe punishment,” said Balraj, rape victim's father.
After reaching the village in her cavalcade crossing narrow lanes, Sonia when asked to comment on the growing number of such cases in Haryana in the recent past, said such acts were condemnable.
She was accompanied by Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Union Minister Kumari Selja, Haryana Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala and Congress MP from Sirsa, Ashok Tanwar.
When asked to comment on some Khap Panchayat or caste council leaders in Haryana suggesting that marriageable age for girls should be reduced to 16 as this will help in curbing the increasing instances of rapes in the State, the UPA Chairperson rejected it.
"We have a democratic system here, we have (an independent) judiciary...law is in the hands of judiciary, nobody else," she said.
The Haryana government has drawn flak from all quarters, particularly the Opposition, for its alleged failure to prevent incidents of crime against women.
The 16-year-old girl had sprinkled kerosene and immolated herself after allegedly being gangraped by two youths in Narwana sub-division of the district.
The victim had breathed her last at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences at Rohtak, where she was rushed to from Narwana Civil hospital with 90 per cent burn injuries.
Police has arrested the victim's neighbour Pradeep, the main accused who had dragged the victim to his house, and his accomplice Naveen, who was also charged with raping the girl. Two more people, including Pradeep's sister-in-law, have also been arrested in the case.
The Jind incident came close on the heels of a series of horrific crimes against women in Haryana during the past one month, and third in Jind alone.
The rattled Haryana government had on Thursday formed a three-member committee at district levels to investigate, monitor and ensure speedy prosecution of such crimes.
The Jind rape incident was the 10th such incident within a span of about a month in Haryana. Earlier, a rape took place in Hisar on September 9, where a Dalit teenaged girl was gangraped in Dabra village.
After that a married woman was gangraped in a Jind village, a teenage girl was gangraped by some youths in Gohana in Sonepat district while another teenaged girl was raped in a moving jeep in Bhiwani district.
Haryana's main Opposition Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) had lashed out at the Hooda government, alleging that ever since it had come to power in year 2005, “the number of rape cases have witnessed a sharp increase”.
INLD's secretary general Ajay Singh Chautala alleged that recent incidents of rape and earlier the sexual abuse of some inmates of Rohtak's Apna Ghar shelter home have shaken the entire state.
Ajay Chautala said INLD delegation led by its president and former chief minister Om Prakash Chautala will submit a memorandum to the State Governor in Chandigarh on October 10 demanding dismissal of the Hooda government as it had allegedly failed to protect the women of the state.
What an image you guys are making of India in front of universe by your low level, cheap comments. The lady called sonia, is taking lot of pain to saveguard us from the corrupt people. It is not her, but their some corrupt politicians from NCP, DMK who have looted the country. Rather, we mmust appreciate this brave lady who have saved the country from communal forces which killed thousands of people on the name of Ram and rahim. Long Live Sonia, this country needs you.
@ANOOP AGRAWAL people knew who is corrupted and who is not. robert Vadra is sonia son-in-law, not mine. i need not to tell people that when ship sinks who is responsible for it.it's captain not crew choro ki sardar even rapists will not be sentenced more than 7 yrs.
Horrendous and unpardonable act - State Administration should rein the situation - before things gets out of control !
Rape victims being seen by a politician and consoling is a wrong concept. Every body is aware that justice will not be given who ever it sees.At last the govt. may appoint a committee to investigate to pass time and earn money. Implementation of law is important than framing. Govt. is very week and these things are going on ever without any control. Pity and Poor Indians.
Does it require of Sonia's stature to look into rape victims. It is just vote bank politics or diverting attention of Vadra accusations. Where is the Police of state what are they doing??
First of all, when Sonia got dow from her cab, she should have got rapped for atleast 10 hours by the Hasryanvi Jhats, by which she would come to know about what the trouma of a rape victim is all about. If she was so serious, why dont she gt Hudda removed who is a total failure to rule the state and did nothing but encouraging corruption to allotting lands to DLF etc etc and etc.
First of all, when Sonia got dow from her cab, she should have got rapped for atleast 10 hours by the Hasryanvi Jhats, by which she would come to know about what the trouma of a rape victim is all about. If she was so serious, why dont she gt Hudda removed who is a total failure to rule the state and did nothing but encouraging corruption to allotting lands to DLF etc etc and etc.
Sonia and her family is raping our country. How can she stop others from rape. Had it been a hindu girl other than dalit, she would not have uttered a word. It is not vote bank. PITY
You spoke the heart of the country my friend. Let one get Priyanka on the street, have her raped by the Haryanvi Jhats for 2 hours and let us see what Sonia has to say. She and her family is looting the entier country sent the countrymen to the 18th century by raising the commodity prices, how far she can be protected by the Almighty? Had she not been gone for the trreatment in US while the mischeivous Anna Hazare (her right hand in supporting corruption, otherwise why did he leave the fast when the people started coming to support him, especially when he said that it is a "aar par ki ladai", an agent of Sonia Gandhi") she should be raped in public for a free-entertaintment tax free, free ticket for a minimum of two hours, then only she willcome to know what is a rape is called about!!! She along with her daughter, wife of the tainted Robert Vadhra, be raped in public for a minimum of 10 hours at India Gate!!!. She was there fore only for the vote bank or else she should have sacked Hudda as CM who take no initiation to punish the culprits till yet. A fictious game plan laid by the Sonia family!!!! I really have strong doubt about it.
This is the lowest point where one can go writing comments about rape!!! How can IE publish this kind of comment from a pervert mind called "SREE"? He is totally insensitive & talking rubbish. The editor is doing greater harm publishing his comments.... Please don't do this.
Haryana is a shame on the face of the nation with daily news of rapes and honor killings.It does not seem to be situated in the neighborhood of national capital but in some remote jungle inhabited by shameless people. The present govt is equally shameless & in capable of taking any action against the culprits.we have never ever heard about any action by the govt. They are just mum is if these are normal things.They don't have any right to stay in power if they can not govern or is it all for vote politics. Shame, Big shame.
Has any 'central leader' of BJP ever shown such compassion for a poor Dalit family? There is a reason why the Congress keeps getting re-elected in spite of all the scams. Congress is always there for the down-trodden (at least they make a good show of it). Where is the BJP?????
Any cheap politician would do this, what is the use of visiting the victim's family and giving them some compensation (ransom) to cover up the case. Politicians when especially when they are ruling, the reactions to this sort of inhuman actions should be to punish the culprit and take steps not to repeat such tragedies. After a few weeks, this case would be surpassed by other incidents, the culprits of course with the patronage of politicians come out from remand and go on hunting. I heard an age old rite of 'Rakshana bandana' where you tie a thead in your brothers to protet you, and where are those brothers, and aren't those rapists getting the same threads from their sisters. Poor girls in Haryana, dear young women learn some self defence methods or carry such weapons to tackle those bloody molesters, because you girls are not in safe hands today.
How come, Sonia never showed any concern for rape victims earlier! Rape is an everyday occurrence in India. Did Sonia ever speak about it? Now, her son-in-law's crimes are forcing her to these tactics, to divert attention.
