Reactions Pour In After Death Penalty Ordinance for Child Rapists

Who has welcomed the death penalty ordinance and who is against it? Read to find out.

The death penalty should only be reserved for terror cases, recommends the Law Commission.

(Photo: iStock)

Journalists, lawyers and activists react to the cabinet and President Ram Nath Kovind giving the nod to the death penalty ordinance for those convicted of raping children below the age of 12 yesterday.

While some have welcomed the government decision, there have been others who vehemently oppose the government ordinance, calling it detrimental and uncivilised.

Those Who’ve Spoken Against

The Centre for Death Penalty at National Law University spoke against the passing of the ordinance.

Advocate Karuna Nandy and author and feminist Taslima Nasreen both tweeted against the ordinance:

Journalists Hartosh Singh Badal, Shekhar Gupta, Aunindyo Chakravarty as well as the columnist Ashutosh, spoke against it, for different reasons.

Columnist Ashutosh put the image of an article on Twitter with the headline ‘The father of ‘Nirbhaya law’ opposed death penalty’ and added that the death penalty cannot feature in a civilised society.

Columnist Shivam Vij has come down hard on the government, tweeting that the death penalty ordinance was nothing more than a gimmick.

Brinda Karat also clarified her party’s stance against death penalty, “The CPI-M is in principal against the death penalty in principal,” she said adding that she believes the BJP is sheltering rapists, "We have heard about gau rakshaks and criminal activities which they indulged in. Today BJP is preparing and has prepared bands of men who are rapist rakshaks," she said and demanded that penalty should exist for those protecting the rapists.

Those Who’ve Welcomed It

Amongst those who welcomed the decision was columnist Shefali Vaidya, who welcomed the government’s changed to the POSCO Act.

Sonam Mahajan, who identifies herself as a TV panelist, demanded the death penalty for all rapists, not just child rapists. She tweeted:

Amongst the people who’ve spoken in favour of the death penalty ordinance are BJP leaders and members of the cabinet like Kiren Rijiju and Piyush Goyal.

Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh from Congress also hailed the move.

(With inputs from PTI and IANS)

(The Quint is now on WhatsApp. To receive handpicked stories on topics you care about, subscribe to our WhatsApp services. Just go to TheQuint.com/WhatsApp and hit send)