Congress against chemical castration of rapists

The Congress Party has disfavoured chemical castration of rapist even as it suggested stringent laws to deter crimes against women.

In its suggestions made to Justice J S Verma Committee set up to draft new anti-rape laws, general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said the party disfavoured chemical castration of rapists.

While Dwivedi did not give details of the party's suggestions submitted to the Justice Verma Committee, the party is reported to been favouring life imprisonment (of up to 30 years) for rapists and setting up of fast-track courts for speedy justice.

The committee was set up in the wake of the gang-rape incident in Delhi that led to outrage across the country.

There seems to by differences of opinion within the ruling party itself over the issue. While women leaders like Renuka Chaudhary had sought chemical castration of rapists, part chief Sonia Gandhi has not made any suggestions on the punishment to be meted out to rapists.

Gandhi had, meanwhile, held a meeting with top leaders, including the prime minister, as also experts for consultations over the issue.

The Verma committee, set up on 23 December to draft new laws that would deter crime against women and ensure speedy justice to the aggrieved in sexual assault, has to submit its report within 30 days.