I won’t end fast until Central law comes into force: Swati Maliwal

New Delhi: As the central government proposed the death penalty for rapists of children less than 12, Delhi Commission for Women  (DCW) chairperson Swati Maliwal, who went without food for the eighth consecutive day on Friday, said that she will not end her hungerstrike until the law comes into force.

As a mark of protest against the rape incidents in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua and Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao, 33-year-old Ms Maliwal began her hungerstrike last week at Rajghat demanding immediate implementation of a stringent law for giving rapists the death penalty.

“Every day affidavits are submitted in courts by the government. Unless the law comes into enforcement, I will not quit. The law has to be stringent: death penalty within six months to those convicted for raping minors,” she said.

Earlier in the day, the central government told the Supreme Court that it is proposing the maximum punishment of death penalty for the rapists of children younger than 12.

Soon after this, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted to Ms Maliwal: Congratulations Swati Maliwal. You should now end the fast. We all should now work towards effective implementation of these laws and keep working towards rest of the demands.”

To this, the DCW chairperson said she respects Mr Kejriwal’s request to end her hungerstrike, but will not end her hunger strike.