Women's safety a priority? Anti-rape law still in discussion

Since the fatal gang-rape of a medical student on a Delhi bus three months ago, the government has professed that improving women's safety is at the top of its agenda. Yet, a new proposal for tough anti-rape laws was not cleared by the cabinet at a meeting today, because senior ministers continue to disagree over key features of the bill, like whether the age of consent should be lowered from 18 to 16. Sexual intercourse for those below the age of consent is considered statutory rape.