Indian PM urges an end to violence against women

By Associated Press

NEW DELHI (AP) — Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Friday that India had been shamed by rapes and attacks against women, and called on parents in this deeply misogynistic country to treat their sons and daughters equally in his first speech marking the country's independence from colonial rule.

"The law will do its job and do it strictly but as a society every parent also has a responsibility to teach their sons the difference between right and wrong," Modi said as he addressed the nation from the Red Fort, the sprawling 17th century fortress that was once home to India's medieval Mughal rulers.

"Today when we hear news reports of rapes, our heads hang in shame," Modi said, addressing a growing anger against persistent violence against women.

Indian policewomen salute as they march in the rain during a parade to mark Independence Day in Jammu, India, Friday, Aug. 15, 2014. India celebrates its 194...

Indian policewomen salute as they march in the rain during a parade to mark Independence Day in Jammu, India, Friday, Aug. 15, 2014. India celebrates its 1947 independence from British colonial rule on Aug. 15. (AP Photo/Channi Anand)

A fatal gang rape on a moving bus in the Indian capital in December 2012 enraged a country long inured to sexual violence against women. Amid scores of public protests new and tougher legislation was enacted doubling prison terms for rapists to 20 years and criminalizing voyeurism, stalking and the trafficking of women.

Modi called on all lawmakers to ensure that separate toilets were built for girls and women. A lack of private toilets in schools has been cited as a reason for girls dropping out of schools. Women in rural India often must use faraway fields as toilets where they are often harassed and sometimes face sexual violence.

"Can't we just make arrangements for toilets for the dignity of our mothers and sisters?"

Modi made the hour-long speech without a prepared text. He did not speak from behind a bullet-proof screen, the first prime minister to do so in almost 30 years.

India gained independence from British rule in 1947.

Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party swept into power in May, in the biggest electoral upset here in three decades. His main electoral plank had been to boost an economy that had slowed to 5 percent growth in the last two years. He promised to wipe out endemic corruption, create more jobs and control soaring inflation.

While he announced no specific policies on Friday, he again vowed to work to pull millions of Indians out of poverty, calling himself India's "prime servant" and not prime minister.

He said his goal was to "eradicate" poverty in India, where hundreds of millions live on less than a dollar a day.

He urged global investors to bring their manufacturing units to India.

"As I say to the world — 'Come, Make in India'," he said.

He said his government would replace India's Planning Commission, which laid out the frame-work for India's socialist-style economy for decades, with a modern institution.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi  addresses the nation on the country's Independence Day in New Delhi, India, Friday, Aug. 15, 2014. India celebrates its ...

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation on the country's Independence Day in New Delhi, India, Friday, Aug. 15, 2014. India celebrates its 1947 independence from British colonial rule on Aug. 15. (AP Photo/Saurabh Das)

Indian women attend celebrations to mark the country's Independence Day in Mumbai, India, Friday, Aug. 15 , 2014. India celebrates its 1947 independence from...

Indian women attend celebrations to mark the country's Independence Day in Mumbai, India, Friday, Aug. 15 , 2014. India celebrates its 1947 independence from British colonial rule on Aug. 15. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)

Indian girls, dressed in traditional attire, hold umbrellas in the rain and watch a parade celebrating India's Independence Day in Gauhati, India, Friday Aug...

Indian girls, dressed in traditional attire, hold umbrellas in the rain and watch a parade celebrating India's Independence Day in Gauhati, India, Friday Aug. 15 2014. India celebrates its 1947 independence from British colonial rule on Aug. 15. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi  addresses the nation on the country's Independence Day from the ramparts of the historical Red Fort in New Delhi, India,...

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation on the country's Independence Day from the ramparts of the historical Red Fort in New Delhi, India, Friday, Aug. 15, 2014. India celebrates its 1947 independence from British colonial rule on Aug. 15. Seen in background is the Jama Masjid. (AP Photo /Manish Swarup)

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, center, meets school children after addressing  the nation on Independence Day in New Delhi, India, Friday, Aug. 15, 201...

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, center, meets school children after addressing the nation on Independence Day in New Delhi, India, Friday, Aug. 15, 2014. India celebrates its 1947 independence from British colonial rule on Aug. 15. (AP Photo /Manish Swarup)

Indian policemen participate in a parade to mark the country's independence Day at the Golconda Fort in Hyderabad, India, Friday, Aug.15, 2014. India celebra...

Indian policemen participate in a parade to mark the country's independence Day at the Golconda Fort in Hyderabad, India, Friday, Aug.15, 2014. India celebrates its 1947 independence from British colonial rule on Aug. 15. (Mahesh Kumar A.)

Indian school children make a formation displaying the numbers 68, to indicate India's 68th Independence Day at the Red Fort in New Delhi, India, Friday, Aug...

Indian school children make a formation displaying the numbers 68, to indicate India's 68th Independence Day at the Red Fort in New Delhi, India, Friday, Aug. 15, 2014. India celebrates its 1947 independence from British colonial rule on Aug. 15. (AP Photo /Manish Swarup)

An Indian pulls his rickshaw through a street decorated with streamers in the colors of the Indian national flag on Independence Day in Kolkata, india, Frida...

An Indian pulls his rickshaw through a street decorated with streamers in the colors of the Indian national flag on Independence Day in Kolkata, india, Friday, Aug. 15, 2014. (AP Photo/ Bikas Das)

A schoolgirl holds an umbrella in the rain and watches soldiers marching during a parade celebrating India's Independence Day in Gauhati, India, Friday Aug. ...

A schoolgirl holds an umbrella in the rain and watches soldiers marching during a parade celebrating India's Independence Day in Gauhati, India, Friday Aug. 15 2014. India celebrates its 1947 independence from British colonial rule on Aug. 15. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

An Indian artist  dressed as Hindu monkey-God Hanuman waits to perform during independence Day celebrations at Golconda Fort in Hyderabad, India, Friday, Aug...

An Indian artist dressed as Hindu monkey-God Hanuman waits to perform during independence Day celebrations at Golconda Fort in Hyderabad, India, Friday, Aug.15, 2014. India celebrates its 1947 independence from British colonial rule on Aug. 15. (Mahesh Kumar A.)

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, wearing turban, greets Indian Defense Minister Arun Jaitley, fourth right, as he arrives to address the nation on Indepe...

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, wearing turban, greets Indian Defense Minister Arun Jaitley, fourth right, as he arrives to address the nation on Independence Day in New Delhi, India, Friday, Aug. 15, 2014. India celebrates its 1947 independence from British colonial rule on Aug. 15. (AP Photo /Manish Swarup)

Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.