Sirohi, Rajasthan, Dec 6 (UNI) Expressing grave concern over the increasing incidents of crime against women in the country, President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday said when the modesty of a daughter is attacked, it stirs the soul of the whole country.
Addressing the two-day conference on Societal Change, organised by the Women Empowerment wing of the Brahma Kumari Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalay at Abu Road here, Mr Kovind said those accused of rape under the POCSO Act, should not have the right to file a mercy petition.

He said there is a provision under the law, which gives right to the accused, to file a mercy petition. The same should be reviewed by Parliament, he added.
Talking about the low literacy rate of females in the country, as compared to their male counterparts, Mr Kovind said the work was in progress in this direction and soon, girls will outshine boys in this department also.
Referring to the gender ratio of Banswara, where for every 1000 boys, there were 1003 girls, the President said he was proud of the fact that a tribal area like Banswara had managed to achieve, what other states in the country had not been able to.
More than 52 per cent women had opened their accounts under the Jan-Dhan scheme, which was commendable, he pointed out.
Mr Kovind further exemplified with 78 women Members of Parliament, who made the 17th Lok Sabha unique. It was a proud moment for the country to have 78 representatives of the fairer sex in the House of Commoners, he added.

Mr Kovind's statement comes at a time, when the whole country is seething with anger over two recent incidents of rape and setting ablaze the victims.
While the nation was yet to come to terms with the brutal gangrape and murder of a 23-year-old veterinary doctor in Hyderabad on November 27, whose body was later set ablaze to destroy the evidence, another incident came to the fore.
A rape survivor was attacked with lethal weapons and later burnt alive at Unnao of Uttar Pradesh on Thursday, while she was boarding a train to attend the hearing in the case. The victim was flown to AIIMS in New Delhi, with 90 per cent burns.
Meanwhile, all the four accused in the gangrape and murder case of the young veterinarian near Hyderabad were shot dead in an encounter in Chattanpally, early on Friday.
UNI RJ ADG 1931