Make Your Sons Responsible to Increase Safety of India’s Daughters: Modi

Mandla (MP)/ April 25: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said sons have to be made more responsible for a safe environment for daughters and asserted that the promulgation of an ordinance on rape showed the Centre acted on people’s outrage on sexual crimes against minors.

Days after the government approved the ordinance allowing courts to award the death penalty to those convicted of raping girls below the age of 12 years, Modi also called for a social movement to ensure the safety of girls.

“Shivraj ji (Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan) just referred to the capital punishment provided in the ordinance for rape against minors and I could see that it (the remark) received cheers from everyone present here,” Modi said while addressing a rally here.

“There is a government in Delhi which listens to your voice and takes decisions. So, the Centre has made a provision for capital punishment to the monstrous intent,” he said.

The Union Cabinet had on April 21 Okayed the ordinance amid a nation-wide uproar over the rape and murder of minors in Kathua and Surat and the rape of a teenager in Unnao.

“Those who commit such ghastly crimes will hang,” the Prime Minister said. Modi, while addressing the National Panchayati Raj Sammelan in Mandla district, Madhya Pradesh. The PM also pitched for creating an atmosphere for daughters’ safety within the family. “Families will have to enhance the honour and respect of daughters. Families should also make their sons more responsible. In this way, the safety of daughters would not be a difficult task. We have to launch a social movement in this direction,” Modi said.

Stressing on the need to conserve water, the Prime minister said, “We should work for saving rain water. Panchayats should spend NREGA funds on water conservation during April, May and June. Every drop of rain should be conserved. This would not only save our money but also save villages from water shortages and help in agriculture.”

In his speech at the rally in the tribal-dominated district, Modi also referred to the role of members of tribal communities and others in India’s freedom struggle, and said it was unfortunate that only the contribution of a few families was mentioned in its history.

“To highlight the contribution of those people who have played a major role in the freedom struggle since 1857, a museum will be set up in every state to remember those who sacrificed their lives for the country’s independence so that new generations will come to know about their sacrifice,” he said.