Srinagar, Sep 29: Peoples Democratic Party Thursday slammed the government for making public the identity of rape victims in the legislature saying the move depicts the “callousness and insensitiveness” of this government. It said the state government’s move is also in clear violation of the Supreme Court ruling on this highly sensitive issue involving chastity of women.
“The House is the guardian of the dignity of people. But the identity of the rape victims with the minutest details was disclosed in the state Assembly so brazenly. It not goes against moral and ethical values but is also clear violation of the Supreme Court guidelines,” PDP President, Mehbooba Mufti told a press conference here at her residence.
“It has serious social repercussions for the victims and their families. Revealing of the identity of the victims has destroyed their lives and the government led by National Conference is responsible for it,” said Mehbooba, flanked by PDP chief spokesman, Naeem Akthar.
On September 27, the state government revealed in the House that 1336 cases of rape have been registered across Jammu and Kashmir during the past five years. The information furnished by Home Department revealed the identities of all such victims from the Kashmir valley.
In a written reply to the question of MLA, Abdul Majid Wani, government said 1336 rape cases have been registered in different police stations of the state from 2005 to 2010, giving the district-wise break-up of the victims, their names, parentage, and place of residence. While in case of Jammu region the identity was concealed.
“Under ordinary circumstances, revealing names of rape victims is a cognizable offence punishable with two years of imprisonment,” she said.
Mehbooba said the party had intended to raise the issue in the Assembly only yesterday but since the Afzal Guru resolution was to be discussed and the subsequent events took place they did not get a chance to do so.
On stalling of the Afzal Guru clemency resolution in the Assembly yesterday following a “drama” in the House, Mehbooba directly accused the Chief Minister on it.
“As leader of the House he could have prevailed upon the members of his coalition partner in the government (Congress) and asked them to allow the resolution. If the Chief Minister was really concerned on the issue given what he had twitted, he would have stood up and spoken yesterday. When you do not have courage to act why should you open your mouth,” she said.
The PDP president accused Omar of involving Assembly in the Guru issue and “then running away from the scene.” She said the assembly has become a casualty of his tweet.
Mehbooba said: “Everybody was waiting for the Afzal Guru resolution yesterday. The Chief Minister involved the prestige of the Assembly in it. But when the issue came up, it was the House which was hanged.”
Responding to a question on the conduct of the Speaker in the House yesterday over continuing disruptions caused by BJP and Congress members, Mehbooba said; “Speaker is a puppet. What can we expect from him? It is the job of the leader of the House to intervene on crucial moments. Has Omar ever behaved like leader of the House,” she asked.
About the silence adopted by the party in the House during the “high drama” which led to lapsing of Guru resolution, Mehbooba said during the business advisory committee meeting the party assured full support to the Speaker in conducting the business of the House smoothly. “We lived by our word and did not intervene. But it was unfortunate on part of the Speaker that he blamed us for adjournment of the House. He is the first Speaker who said since PDP did not storm the well I adjourned the House.”

Lastupdate on : Thu, 29 Sep 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 29 Sep 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:00:00 IST