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Today&rsquo;s politicians have only learned is to speak in the language that people love or likes the most. It seems, they have little respect for law or even courts. 
BJP&rsquo;s sitting MLA from Dabhoi, Shailesh Mehta while attending a Garba event in his constituency, &ldquo;In my personal view encounter is only punishment for rapist, all those who assaults or rapes Gujarati women should be encountered.&nbsp; Non Gujaratis who have settled into Gujarat, and they are doing all this, garba organisers and participants have to be careful.&rdquo;
He publicly admitted that in the last few days, rape incidents are on rise in the state.
This is not the first time that a law maker has shown less respect for law or judiciary, few days ago, Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghvi, &ldquo;Publicly stated that Gujaratis can play garba for entire night.&rdquo; Though police have granted permission to play garba using loud speaker, only till 12.00 AM, respecting Supreme Court&rsquo;s order which has banned loudspeaker and DJ&rsquo;s use in public from 10 PM to 6 AM.
Shah does not stop there, after a recent rape case in Vadodara, he being minister, whose duty is to ensure women safety, instead of doing his duty, publicly demanded capital punishment for rapist.
Rape is a heinous crime, accused if found guilty and court is convinced with evidence, the court will decide, what short of punishment should be awarded to such criminals. Let the court independently decide case to case. Why politicians are commenting on each and every crime and trying to influence courts, just for the shake of winning hearts of people and to ensure that their vote banks remain intact? 
The fact is, in Gujarat, crime against women is on rise, the state government is failing to provide safety and security to women, according to Government of India&rsquo;s Department of Justice Department&rsquo;s Dash Board, in Gujarat, 6455 cases are pending in the POCSO courts alone. In our country more than 2 lakh cases are pending in POCSO courts, in such situation, if law makers or ministers starts talking about individual cases, and, want it influence courts?
Here is a glaring example, on November 4, 2021, 35-year-old Guddu Yadav raped a toddler and murdered her. On November 8th accused is arrested, Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghvi promises of fast justice, charge sheet in the case is filed within seven days, and on November 28th Gandhinagar POCSO court convicts accused with the death penalty, terming it as &lsquo;rarest of rare&rsquo; case. 
Question here is not only about politicians&rsquo; talking and action, but, the big question arise is if in one case, police can file charge sheet in seven days, courts can deliver judgement in 15 days, why the same zeal and passion is not shown in all other rape cases, especially registered under the POCSO act?

A Gujarat Lawmaker is advocating encounters of rapists

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October 11, 2024 | 22:24 IST