TEAM HERALD
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
PANJIM: The women’s wing of the Congress party has approached the National Commission for Women to ensure that the seven-year-old alleged Vasco rape victim is delivered speedy justice.
Addressing a press conference at Goa Congress party’s headquarters in Panjim, All India Mahila Congress Committee’s President Anita Verma said she is upset at the manner in which police are handling the investigation.
“I was really upset when they (victim’s family) told me that this case has been there for three months, the children’s court had given orders but no action has been taken,” she said.
Verma, who was in Goa to propose names of eligible women party workers for the next president of the national women’s wing to UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, had met the victim’s family in Mormugao Tuesday.
“I have talked to the National Commission for Women to intervene in the case,” she said in the presence of Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Subhash Shirodkar and others during the briefing.
She said the case will raise questions in the minds of the tourists on their safety.
“It will send a wrong message, because your earning capacity is through tourism because they (tourists) feel if Goans are not able to look after their daughters and women, how will they be able to look after women who come from outside,” she commented. The Class II student was allegedly raped in the school toilet at Vasco on January 14 during recess time. Crime Branch’s SIT team and Vasco police are conducting two separate investigations into the rape and destruction of evidence. While the perpetrator is still at large, only one arrest was made in the form of suspended Headmistress Sharlet Furtado for destruction of evidence. She was released on bail subsequently.
Meanwhile, the Mahila Congress has lent its support for the 30 per cent reservation of women in Parliament and Legislative Assemblies across all states in the country. She however blamed the Opposition for creating hindrances whenever the Bill is tabled in the House.
Therefore, she said, Mahila Congress Units in all the states are given the task to take into confidence other political parties to pass the Bill. The party has already allotted 30 percent reservation for women at all level elections.
The committee has also taken up the initiative to encourage competent women candidates fight election against male contenders.
“It is easy for a woman candidate to contest election against women counterpart, but it is difficult to win against a male candidate. I have fought and won against male because I came from a political background…We are trying to make capable women with 50 percent winning chances by another 70 percent to compete strong against men. Even if she loses, let her lose with a small margin,” she commented.
She opined at various places where chances of men winning elections are less, women should be given a chance.
