Crimes against women are an unforgivable sin: Prime Minister

Jalgaon: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday described crimes against women as an unpardonable sin, adding that the guilty should not be spared.

Modi's harsh remarks follow protests against the brutal rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor-in-training at RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata and the sexual abuse of two four-year-old schoolgirls in Badlapur. Speaking at the Lakhpati Didi Sammelan in Jalgaon in northern Maharashtra, Modi said women's safety must be the top priority.

“The safety of mothers, sisters and daughters is the country's top priority. I have repeatedly raised this issue from the Red Fort. No matter which state of the country, I understand the pain and anger of my sisters and daughters,” he said.

Modi said he would tell every political party and every state government that crimes against women are an unpardonable sin. Those who are guilty should not be spared, he added.

“Those who aid the perpetrators of crimes against women should not be spared. Be it in a hospital, a school, the government or the police system, at whatever level negligence occurs, everyone should be held accountable. The message should go from the top down. This sin is unforgivable. Governments will come and go, but protecting the life and dignity of women is a great responsibility of all of us, both as a society and as a government,” Modi said.

Modi further said that his government was tightening laws to ensure stricter punishments for crimes against women.

The Lakhpati Didis event honoured 1.1 million new lakhpati Didis who had achieved this mark during the third term of his government.

“Until 2014, loans of less than Rs 25 billion were provided to women's self-help groups, but in the last decade, the figure has risen to Rs 9 billion,” Modi said. “The Lakhpati Didi scheme is not only aimed at increasing women's incomes but also empowering future generations,” Modi said.