Srinagar, Apr 24: Welcoming the ordinance passed by State cabinet today pronouncing capital punishment for those found guilty in sexual assault on minors, AIP leader and MLA Langate Er. Rasheed has said that the move is a right step in the right direction, though it should have been taken much earlier.
According to AIP press release, interacting with people at various places in Kupwara today, Er. Rasheed said “It would have been more appropriate had the law been passed and implemented when Tabindah Gani rape and murder incident took place in 2006.
“It is unfortunate that the government wakes up only after some heinous crime takes place. State government often follows New Delhi and the track-record proves that State government has never dared to bring an ordinance or pass a law of some serious significance and has preferred often to wait for New Delhi’s nod over such sensitive issues,” he alleged.
He said more than passing laws it is important to ensure their time-bound implementation. He also sought similar hard laws to deal with corruption and nepotism.
He also appealed the government to implement Forest Rights Act 2006 as passed by the Central government “While State government has always been very keen and eager to implement all those laws passed by Central government in one form or the other from time to time, one fails to understand why doesn’t it pass law or bring and ordinance on the pattern of Forest Rights Act of 2006 passed by Central government to protect the rights of nomads and those living within the vicinity of the forests.”
He said need of the hour is to pass an act as soon as possible to bring State laws at par with Center’s Forest Rights Act Of 2006.
Er. Rasheed also appealed the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to rise to the occasion and pass a law in the Assembly or bring an ordinance to protect the rights of nomads and other related inhabitants at the pattern of Forest Rights Act 2006.