Patiala, January; The National Scheduled Castes Alliance, a socio-political organization for the welfare and development of the Scheduled Castes community, today held a Candle March for raising voice against the injustice met with a 13 year old gang rape victim. The march was held from Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Statue near Bus Stand, Patiala till the IGP Office Patiala Zone.
President of the Alliance, Paramjit Singh Kainth said “Irrespective of caste, creed or color, everyone joined in the candle march. People from every sphere of society raised their voice united against the corruption and politicization of the police and civil administration, which is not allowing victims of various crimes have justice. This candle march is symbolic of the frustration built inside people and this is just the beginning, National Scheduled Castes Alliance will organize such marches all over the State, in all the districts and will keep raising its voice until justice is not served.”
Kainth further reiterated “This Candle March was against the heavy political interference of the politicians in the matters handled by the Police and Civil Administration. Almost every serious case is being altered so as to satisfy the demands of the Politicians. Police should be independent of the politicians and should focus on its main task of providing law & order and instead stop giving more attention on appeasing the politicians.”
Kainth said “This case could have been solved by now but since there has been interference to shield the culprits from severe punishment, the case hangs in limbo. Chief Minister of the State Capt. Amrinder Singh has been mischievously quiet on the issue which has been highlighted hugely in the recent days. None of the 117 MLA’s has spoken over the issue, it seems that these MLA’s are just minions and all they serve is power and not the people. The attitude of the opposition on such a heinous crime is woeful, other major NGO’s and Political Parties have shown least concern in intervening the issue.”
“Various people from numerous fields joined the March, it was highly shared and responded by the people on social media having reached out to more than 20,000 people since 4th January on facebook. Social-Religious leaders like Satwinder Singh Heera, leader of the Ad-Dharam Mission from Shri Khuralgarh Sahib also attended the event along with few of his followers. A case which has been receiving such public outreach is being interfered by the politicians and justice is being delayed to the minor girl and her family.”
Kainth said “There are strong provisions but weak implementation of the various Acts and Legislations we have related to sexual offences of children under 18 years old. The police officials at lower level of the department have considerably less or no knowledge at all of all the acts and sections related to various crimes. There is a strict need to educate and train the policemen about the recent acts and legislations and also a need to organize a system of supervision for any misconduct and misinterpretation of a crime by the Police officials. Although the state is required to give wide publicity to Acts and Legislations protecting Children from sexual offences, the law is relatively unknown even to those who need to apply it.”
National Scheduled Castes Alliance urged the Government to act strictly in the matter so as to no such sexual or physical offence against a child, male or female, adult or minor can be committed. This case should set a benchmark for punishment of gang rape in the State and should deter people in future from committing such a grave crime.