Swati Maliwal falls unconscious, shifted to ICU as hunger strike enters 13th day

New Delhi: Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Chief Swati Maliwal was shifted to ICU on Sunday morning at LNJP hospital as she had fell unconscious after 13th day of her indefinite hunger strike against the rape incidents in the country.

She fell unconscious around 0700 hours here at Raj Ghat.

With her health was deteriorating, she was advised on Saturday by doctors to end the fast immediately as her uric acid levels were in danger zone.

Maliwal has lost 7-8 kg weight by the 12th day of her hunger strike. Her blood pressure and sugar have also remained consistently below normal. The doctors, who came to check her health, had asked Swati to end her fast. Maliwal’s uric acid is 10.1 which is much more than normal. These levels are a danger signal and this increases risk of kidney failure.

On Saturday, she had written to Andhra Pradesh CM Jaganmohan Reddy and congratulated him for Disha Bill.

She had said that while this initiative of Andhra Pradesh government is commendable on one hand, the “silence of the Central government hurts on the contrary”.

The Disha Bill is a game-changer to ensure justice in crimes against women as it amends the Indian Penal Code and the POCSO Act to provide maximum punishment in rape, gang-rape, child rape, acid-attack offenses, Maliwal said.

The Bill seeks to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure so that police investigations into rape and acid attack cases are completed within seven working days.The Disha Bill also says that the trial must be completed within 14 working days, thus reducing the total judgment time to 21 working days.

The Bill also ensures that all appeals and amendment petitions are disposed of within 3 months.

It provides for the establishment of special sessions courts (fast-track courts) in every district to deal exclusively with the crimes of rape, molestation and acid attack.

According to Maliwal, the passage of this bill will give a strong message to the rapists and create an atmosphere of fear. Swati also said in the letter that she was sad that the MPs wasted the important time of the Parliament in the statements given on rape. If this time was spent in enacting a law against rape and debating issues, then there would be some change in the country.

While no dialogue initiative has been taken by the Central Government, on the other hand, Maliwal is also adamant on her demands. (UNI)