Uttarakhand to bring law to give death penalty to rapists of minor girls

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said the state government will bring a legislation in the next session of the state Assembly to make a provision for capital punishment for the rapists of minor girls.

Trivendra Singh Rawat - File Photo, PTI

Dehradun/Kashipur: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat today said the state government will bring a legislation in the next session of the state Assembly to make a provision for capital punishment for the rapists of minor girls. The chief minister announced this while addressing the working committee meeting of the state BJP at Kashipur in Udham Singh Nagar district.

Rawat said the state government was concerned over the growing incidents of crimes against minor girls and stricter laws were needed to check them. "The state government will ensure that those who perpetrate rape on minor girls are sent to the gallows. Efforts are underway to make strict laws in this regard so that such crimes are reined in," the chief minister said.  A legislation will be brought in the next session of the state Assembly to make an Act in this regard, he said.

Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana have already approved the provision of capital punishment for those found guilty of raping girls aged 12 years or less. The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2018, which provides for stringent punishment including death penalty for those convicted of raping girls below the age of 12 years, will be introduced in the monsoon session of Parliament beginning July 18.

Meanwhile, Rawat also asked the party workers to strengthen the organisation at the booth level and create awareness among people about the public welfare programmes initiated by Narendra Modi government for the success of mission 2019. The BJP government has "kept its promise" of giving a corruption-free administration, Rawat said. He said they have to fulfil BJP chief Amit Shah's dream of winning 350 seats in the 2019 general elections.