PM Narendra Modi speaks on women safety amid outrage over Kolkata rape-murder case: ‘Serious concerns…’

PM Narendra Modi said faster justice is delivered in cases of atrocities against women, greater assurance half of the population will have about their safety. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday underlined the need for swift justice in cases involving crimes against women and said that it will give them greater assurance of their safety. His remarks came as India is witnessing an outrage over the alleged murder and rape of a 31-year-old woman trainee doctor in Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital and the sexual assault on two kindergarten girls in Thane. “Today, atrocities against women, safety of children are serious concerns of the society. The faster justice is delivered in cases of atrocities against women, the greater assurance half of the population will have about their safety,” Modi said while addressing the inaugural session of a national conference of the district judiciary in the presence of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud. Modi said there were several stringent laws to deal with crimes against women and there was a need to ensure better coordination among the criminal justice system to ensure swift justice. PM Narendra Modi also said the judiciary is considered a guardian of the Constitution, and that the Supreme Court and the judiciary have lived up to the responsibility. Modi also said the people of India have never shown any distrust of the Supreme Court or the judiciary. Describing the imposition of the Emergency as a “dark” period, the prime minister said the judiciary played a key role in upholding fundamental rights. On matters of national security, Modi said, the judiciary has protected national integrity by keeping national interests paramount.