Panaji, Apr 18: In the backdrop of Kathua and Unnao rape cases, the Goa church said today there is a growing trend in the country to justify crimes committed against some sections of the society by using the garb of nationalism.
It said this trend has generated fear and insecurity among the citizens of the country.
The Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP), the social arm of the Goa church, appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to eliminate the “growing ideology of hate” and “subjugation of women” in the country.
The CSJP expressed concern over the recent cases of rape of minor girls in Kathua (Jammu and Kashmir) and Unnao (Uttar Pradesh) and what it called killings of fellow citizens in the name of community honour, religion and nationalism.
The actual response for these incidents should be to abolish organisations that advocate the “ideology of hate” and “subjugation of women”, CSJP Executive Secretary Fr Savio Fernandes said in a statement.
The council is deeply agonised over the horrendous rapes of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua, a teenager in Unnao and other such cases reported over the last few days in the country, he said.
“The growing trend in the country to justify crimes committed against certain sections of the society by using the garb of nationalism has generated fear and insecurity among the citizens of this country,” he said.
Fernandes said attempts by some people to protect those accused of rape pose a grave threat to the sanctity of democratic institutions in this country.
“The failure of law enforcement agencies to register rape cases in time and connivance of their personnel in destroying circumstantial evidence to subvert the process of justice is worrisome,” he added.
The CSJP appealed for a humane and civilised response to the prevailing “crisis”.
“A reactionary approach with a clamour for tough rape laws and harshest punishments like death penalty or castration for rapists may hardly be sufficient deterrence for crimes against women and children,” the council said.
The CSJP said the employment of rape, lynching and killing by some ideological groups to humiliate and terrorise certain sections of the society like minorities, Dalits, women and children is in no way reflective of India’s rich ancient culture of peace, tolerance and inclusiveness.
“The CSJP appeals to the prime minister to eliminate the growing ideology of hate and subjugation of women which undermines constitutional values,” Fernandes said.
“There is an urgent need to restore a sense of confidence and security among people by ensuring speedy justice and protection to women, children, minorities, Dalits and other oppressed sections,” the statement added.
In Kathua, an eight-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a group of men who had held her in captivity in a small temple village for a week in January. She was drugged so that she could be sexually assaulted again before being bludgeoned to death.
In Unnao, a teenage girl alleged she was raped by ruling BJP legislator Kuldeep Singh Sengar, who was later arrested by the CBI. The survivor alleged she was raped by the MLA at his residence on June 4, 2017 where she had gone with a relative seeking a job.
