Delhi gangrape: Will do everything to save victim, says an emotional CM

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit turned emotional while speaking about the 23-year-old medical student who was gangraped in the city inside a moving bus. Speaking to IBN Network, Dikshit said that her government will do anything to save the victim's life. She also assured there will be no politics on the issue.

"She belongs to a middle-class family. I cannot compensate the suffering that you are going through. I offered to help and provide any assistance needed to save her life. Her family is silent, suppressing their anger and despair and everybody is feeling their pain. I will never hesitate to bring about any changes in the system to improve the present scenario," an emotional Dikshit said.

"I do not care about the the elections, elections would come and go but it's humanity which remains," Dikshit added.

Meanwhile, the victim continued to battle for life in the Safdarjung hospital. She is still critical and doctors treating her say the blood infection is still spreading. Doctors say the chances of an intestine transplant are very slim, and only a few centres in the world have the expertise.

The Delhi Police on Friday arrested the fifth accused from Uttar Pradesh in connection with the gangrape of a 23-year-old medical student in the city. The Delhi Police Commissioner said that his age was being verified before giving the details. "The fifth accused has been arrested in the rape case. His age is being verified before giving details. If minor, we have to hold back his particulars as per law," Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar said on Twitter.

The police were conducting raids in Haryana and Bihar to trace the sixth accused Akshay Thakur, who had been absconding. The Delhi Police will file a status report in the High Court on Friday. It is expected to explain its failure in stopping the bus during the horrific incident on the fateful night even though it crossed five police pickets. The Home Ministry Parliamentary Standing Committee has summoned the Delhi Police Commissioner on December 27.

Meanwhile, the chorus for justice for the 23-year-old victim is growing. For the fifth day in a row, protests spilled over on the streets, and on Friday, it reached the gates of the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

On Friday, a group of 100 women protesters demonstrated outside the Rashtrapati Bhawan. They attempted to break the security cordon and enter the premises, chanting slogans against the lax law and order situation in the capital. Women constables had to be called in to rein in the protesters. The protesters were joined by some school students and even foreign nationals.

"The accused should be given harsh punishment. Such incidents should not be repeated in India ever again," said one woman protester. "We wanted immediate justice but nothing has been done yet. We want India to be a safe zone for women," said another.

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