Saturday, 14 April 2018
Kurla, Mumbai
A silent hour-long protest was organized by the Kurla unit of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) this morning outside Kurla railway station against the Kathua and Unnao rape incidents, receiving an overwhelming response from passersby who made it a point to carve out some time from the busy rush hour by putting down their signatures to register their outrage. About 1000 signatures have been so collected.
The members of JIH, its Ladies’ Wing, Youth Wing, SIO and GIO led the protests, which were joined by citizens of all hues- irrespective of their religious and political affiliations. The common refrain was that the rapists should be hanged to death through a fast-track court. Mr. Jangale, President of Sadbhavna Manch asserted that the government should take quick action so that such acts are not repeated in the future. Mrs. Partiba, President of a ladies’ NGO called for the castration and capital punishment of the rapists and lamented upon the fact that crimes against women and girls are on a constant rise in the country. The bites of several other citizens were also recorded.
The public outrage was visible in the air. When asked why the protests are continuing despite the two Jammu ministers having tendered their resignations and the Allahabad High Court calling for the arrest of the accused UP MLA, the President of JIH Mumbai, Muhammad Abdul Qadeer said, “We would settle for no less than a quick conviction and exemplary punishment to the rapists so that the rule of law comes to be respected. Just as the Nirbhaya case shook the central government, these cases should also force the current regime towards a course correction. Many such protests have been planned in the next few days.”
