Lucknow, Jan 4 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav Friday said the Samajwadi Party (SP) favoured stringent laws against rapists and that such laws should be enforced strictly to check crimes against women.
“All political parties are unanimously supporting that a stringent law be made against rapists and all those involved in crimes against women… We are of the view that strict laws should not only be made but also be enforced,” the chief minister told reporters at an event here.
He said all the political parties have understood the anger across the country in the wake of the gang-rape of a young woman in Delhi and that he hoped a debate on how to strengthen laws against rape and sexual assault would take place during the budget session of parliament.
On making amendments to the juvenile act to bringing down the age of minor offenders from 18 to 16 years, the chief minister said that an appropriate stand on the issue could only be taken after deliberations in the party.
“I am sure the party (SP) is seized of the matter and would clear its stand as soon as possible,” he said.
