President Ram Nath Kovind
Expressing shock and anger at the gruesome rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua of Jammu and Kashmir, President Ram Nath Koving today wondered whether the society was making strides in the right direction.
Terming incidents like Kathua rape “shameful”, President Kovind said that it should be ensured that such incidents are not repeated in future.
"After 70 years of independence, such an incident occurring in any part of the country is shameful. We have to think what kind of society we are developing. It is our responsibility to ensure such a thing does not happen to any girl or woman," President Ram Nath Kovind said while speaking at the sixth convocation ceremony of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University in Katra.
Referring to the impressive performance of Indian women athletes and sportspersons at the recently-concluded Commonwealth Games, President Kovind said that the “daughters of India”, including Manika Batra from Delhi, Mary Kom, Mirabai Chanu and Sangeeta Chanu from Manipur, Manu Bhaker and Vinesh Phogat from Haryana, Saina Nehwal from Telangana and Heena Sidhu from Punjab, have brought laurels to the country.
Speaking on this occasion, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti also expressed her outrage at the Kathua rape incident.
"How can someone do such a cruel thing to a small girl who is a manifestation of Mata Vaishno Devi, there is something wrong with the society," Mehbooba Mufti said.
An eight-year-old girl was abducted, raped and murdered in Rasana village near Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir. The state police has arrested eight people in connection with this case and chargesheets have been filed against all of them.
