Kathua-Unnao rape cases: Maharashtra Congress to hold candle-lit protests

Mumbai April 14 (IANS) The Congress Maharashtra unit will hold candle-light protests across Mumbai and Maharashtra on Sunday to protest against the recent horrifying rape incidents in Unnao and Kathua.

Mumbai Congress President Sanjay Nirupam will lead a procession in the suburbs at 6 a.m. followed by a similar march by state Congress chief Ashok Chavan in Thane at 7 a.m..

Besides all the district units of the party all over the state shall similar candle-lit marches to protest against the rape incident of an 8-year-old nomadic girl in Jammu & Kashmir s Kathua and a young girl in Uttar Pradesh s Unnao which have shaken the country.

"Ever since the Bharatiya Janata Party has taken over the reins at the centre and in states there has been a sharp increase in the number of crimes against women. Unfortunately the government has not initiated any concrete measures to redress it " Chavan said.

Referring to Maharashtra he said since the present BJP-led administration assumed power crimes against women and girls here have shot up by 36 percent.

Nirupam said the candle-light protests will express solidarity with the victims and their families and highlight the government s failure to combat the growing cases of atrocities against women.

--IANS
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