Vigil to be held at Southall temple on Sunday 13th January
Local MP for Ealing, Southall, Virendra Sharma, has written an Early Day Motion condemning the brutal gang rape and murder of Jyoti Singh Pandey.
He has also criticised 'spiritual' leader Asaram Bapu who caused outrage after apparently blaming the Delhi gang-rape victim for the incident as much as the rapists.
He said: '' I am disgusted by the views held by anyone who has no less than condemned the barbaric attack against Jyoti Singh Pandey. I feel that Indian women’s oppression is not only because of religious or cultural reasons, but that it emanates from the innately sexist society which disregards and excuses violence against females from birth through to adulthood. It is not an isolated case and women are facing violence throughout the world. Women should be able to live without fear and not be thought of as targets as they carry out their daily lives.''
Mr Sharma spoke at a vigil outside the Indian High Commission, London on 7th January and submitted an EDM (early day motion) which has already been signed by 4 Members of Parliament; Peter Bottomley MP, Mark Durkan MP, Andrew George MP and Alan Meale MP.
It reads: ''That this house condemns the brutal gang rape and murder of the 23 year old young woman named by the people of India, `Nirbhaya Damini' Jyoti Singh Pandey, the brave heart and daughter of India, on 16 December 2012 in New Delhi, India, who was savagely attacked by a group of men on a bus and subsequently died from her injuries on 29 December 2012; supports the calls for greater protection for women across the world including here in the UK that have been triggered by this heinous crime; offers condolences to the grieving family and friends of Nirbhaya Damini and calls on the UK Government, judiciary and police to offer assistance to the Indian government to help bring about justice in this case and others like it; calls on the UK Government to work with the police and judiciary here in the UK to resolve more rape and violent crimes against women and to bring those responsible to justice; and believes that society at large must do much more to protect women from such abhorrent acts and that violence against women in all its forms cannot be tolerated and governments around the world and international bodies should do more protect women and to punish those who perpetrate such despicable acts including gang rape, rape, honour killings, forced marriages, female genital mutilation, infanticide, femicide, dowry-related violence and all kinds of domestic violence.”
Mr Sharma hosted a vigil with the Ealing Labour Party Women outside Southall Town Hall for Jyoti on 5th January.
He said: ''As a community we wanted to show our support for Jyoti and all who are affected by rape and domestic violence around the world. I feel it is important that we are able to continue to push for improved legislation in order to prevent cases such as Jyoti’s from occurring again.''
Virendra Sharma MP and the Vishwa Hindu Temple will be holding a vigil on Sunday 13th January between 2-3 pm at Vishwa Hindu Temple, Lady Margaret Road, Southall.
9th January 2013