Cong, BJP seek govt action on honour killings

New Delhi: The Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday sought strict action against the culprits in cases of honour killings, even as the government said it will bring a law to tackle the pernicious practice.

The BJP said that honour killings were cold-blooded murders and demanded setting up of fast-track courts to deal with such cases.

"The BJP demands that fast track courts must be set up to deal with such cases so that such practices do not continue," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar told reporters in New Delhi.

"Such murders should be dealt with strictly," he said.

The Congress favoured a law to deal with honour killings.

"We are deeply concerned over the recent spate of violence and murder in the name of honour killings, particularly around the NCR (National Capital Region). We believe time has come to take a national view in this matter and if the existing criminal laws of the land are not sufficient, the government should consider a suitable law," Congress spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan told reporters in the national capital.

"This violence cannot be condoned by any civilised society and must be put down with a firm hand," she said.

Asked about khap panchayats or caste council, Natarajan said the party was against any kind of extra-constitutional violence.

The khaps have gained notoriety for fiercely opposing marriages between people belonging to same gotra or sub-caste.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit asked the police to be alert and deal with such cases promptly.

"I personally, and through the media, request that the Delhi Police should remain alert and such matters should be dealt with promptness," Dikshit told reporters.

"I am very concerned and worried."

Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily told reporters that Home Ministry has drafted a bill to deal with honour killings.

"The home ministry has already drafted a bill. It has been vetted, and when implemented it will put an end to such kind of killings," Moily said.

A 19-year-old girl and her boyfriend were allegedly tortured to death by the girl's uncle and father in north Delhi's Swaroop Nagar area on June 13 night.

On Monday, a man and woman, who were married four years ago against the wishes of the girl's parents, were found murdered in north Delhi's Ashok Vihar in a suspected case of honour killing.

Cases of honour killings have been reported from Uttar Pradesh and Haryana as well.