New Delhi : Amid national concern and outrage over sexual crimes against women, Sonia Gandhi, the head of the ruling Congress, said today, “Our heads hang in shame because of the rapes, crimes that are committed against women in the country.”

In December, the barbarous gang-rape of a medical student on a bus in Delhi united the country in anger and a determination for change. Massive street protests urged the government to introduce tougher anti-rape laws.

The student was airlifted from Delhi to Singapore by the government, where she died of the horrific injuries from her attack.  When her body returned to India, Mrs Gandhi and the Prime Minister received her parents at the airport.

In response to the public outpouring, in February, the government cleared a new package of laws through an ordinance which provide for the death penalty for extreme cases of rape, and recognize stalking and voyeurism as criminal offences that deserve serious punishment.

However, the new laws have yet to be introduced in parliament for approval, because within the government, there are differences over important features, like whether the age of consent for sex should be lowered from 18 to 16.

Women’s rights activists point out that while the government is moving slowly, attacks on women appear to be increasing.  Delhi has reported four cases of rape  a day till February 15 this year, twice as many for the same period last year.

NDTV