Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today condoled the death of the Delhi gangrape victim and expressed the hope that the entire political class and civil society will set aside narrow sectional interests and agenda to make India a demonstrably safer place to live in.
He said it would be a true homage to her memory if the emotions and energies of the youth generated by the brutal assault on her are channelised into a constructive course of action.
Deeply saddened by the death of the girl, he joined the nation in conveying to her family and friends his deepest condolences at this terrible loss.
"I want to tell them 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 not have been in vain.
"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," he said in his condolence message.
He said the need of the hour is a dispassionate debate and inquiry into the critical changes that are required in societal attitudes.
Government, Singh said, was examining on priority basis the penal provisions that exist for such crimes and measures to enhance the safety and security of women.
"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," Singh said in his condolence message.
The Prime Minister said he prays for the peace of the departed soul and hoped that her family will have the strength to bear this grievous loss.
Terming the gang-rape of the 23-year-old girl as a "shameful incident" for her as an administrator, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today condoled the death of the victim and said one must ensure that such "ghastly" acts do not happen again.
She also appealed to people to maintain peace and calm against the backdrop of violent demonstrations last weekend over the gang-rape incident.
"Our heart goes to the family. My heart is burning over the incident. The passing away of the girl is a truly and terribly tragic incident. It shook our conscience," Dikshit told PTI.
The girl, who was gang-raped allegedly by six men in a moving bus in south Delhi on December 16, breathed her last in a Singapore hospital early this morning after battling for life for the past 13 days.
"It is a shameful incident for me as a Chief Minister and also as a citizen of Delhi. It is time for all of us to reflect on what has happened.
"We all must ensure such ghastly incident do not happen in future. I pray for her," Dikshit said.
Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde today pledged to strengthen laws to ensure that such incidents are not repeated.
He also said that the real tribute to the 23-year-old victim will be to ensure maximum punishment to the culprits.
"I pledge to work to strengthen the laws and ensure that such an incident never gets repeated again," he said.
The girl, who was gang-raped and brutally assaulted by six men in a moving bus in south Delhi, died in a Singapore hospital early this morning after battling for life for the past 13 days.
