Delhi gangrape: BJP says UPA is being arrogant

Hyderabad: In wake of the Delhi gangrape case, the BJP today accused UPA government at the Centre of being "arrogant" while in power by refusing its demand for a special Parliament session on the issue, thus sending a wrong message to nation that our system fails to react aptly to such sexual crimes, prompting people to come out on streets.

"It was unfortunate that the UPA government for reason best known to it, has rejected the suggestion of Leader of Opposition to call a special session of Parliament or convene an all party meeting to discuss the issue threadbare," party's senior leader M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters here.

"Except arrogance of power, there was no reason for not calling a Parliament session or an all party meeting inspite of demands from all sides," he alleged. Naidu said there was a need of stringent laws, speedy trial and change of mind set. The indecision, inaction and insensitivity of the UPA government has sent a wrong message to people that the Parliamentary system did not respond to such crimes, and people took to streets, braving cold, brutal lathi charge and teargas shells (on the issue), he said.

The BJP leader said that cinema and television also should as much as possible avoid showing violence, vulgarity, obscenity and provocative dialogues. He said there was need to have a code of conduct and Centre should formulate stringent guidelines because both the mediums have a tremendous affect on the life and mind of the people.

The BJP is of the view that while administrative accountability has to be fixed, deterrent punishment has to be given, there was a need to include moral studies in our education system, Naidu said. We should also stress on family values, culture, heritage and respect for women, he said.

He appealed the Centre to act fast and call for a meeting as it was not a political demand. "We are not asking for the resignation of the Prime Minister and Home Minister. Let us all come together and discuss indepth and then send a strong message to culprits and create fear of law in the minds of people," Naidu urged.

Welcoming the steps taken by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to curb sexual offences against women, Naidu said every state government should take the issue very seriously and take measures to prevent such occurrences.