New Delhi:
The parents of a physiotherapy student, who died after being brutally gang-raped on a Delhi bus in December 2012, have said that nothing has changed in these two years and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to initiate a mission for women's safety on the lines of his Clean India Campaign.
"Most of the people have adopted clean habits from the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Campaign) started by Narendra Modi. He should take a similar step for the safety of women so that no one tries to sexually assault a woman," the girl's father said.
The 55-year-old, who works as a porter at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, said all the new rules and laws are only on paper, and not a single step has worked towards changing the mindsets of people who sexually assault women.
"Like our wounds that are stubborn and refuse to heal, it seems people in this country do not want to change themselves as more and more rape cases are coming to light every day," he said.
"Rapists and molesters should be given the most stringent punishment so that others get a lesson and no one has the courage to attack any woman in future," he added.
Asked about the Dec 5 Uber cab incident, the man said, "The rapist driver had threatened the victim that he would insert an iron rod citing my daughter's example, when the young woman resisted his attempt."
"It comes out clearly that people like him have no fear of the law. If the culprits in my daughter's case would have been punished, most of the rapes could have been avoided," he said, seated in his modest two-bedroom house.
"The hanging of the culprits is my last wish, so that others get a message," he added.
The 23-year-old was raped by five men and a juvenile in a moving bus on December 16, 2012. The accused dumped her and her male friend on the road - bloodied and without clothes after nearly an-hour long ordeal.
She battled for life for 13 days in Delhi before being airlifted for specialised treatment to Singapore, where she succumbed to her injuries.
The family is satisfied with the verdict of a trial court in Delhi in September last year to hang the four convicted men. A fifth accused allegedly committed suicide in prison.
But the parents of the medical student are still unhappy because the four accused have not been punished yet as the Supreme Court is hearing their appeal against the death sentence, which the Delhi High Court had confirmed.
The braveheart's mother said the final image of her daughter was permanently etched on her mind.
"I can't forget that evening when she left home. She waved at me and her last words were 'Bye Mom! I will return in a few hours'."
"But she never returned home," the 51-year-old said.