KATHMANDU: Alleging that the government had denied justice to the Achham gang rape victim, representatives of different women organisations today threatened to launch what they said a 'pressure-exerting programme' to deliver justice to the victim.

Women representatives from over a dozen women organisations alleged that Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and Home Minister Bhim Rawal steered clear of the matter citing time constraint.

“The government was least bothered to hear our plea about the victim citing that they had hardly any time to spare on the matter,” said Sashi Shrestha, president of Inter-Party Women's Alliance. She was speaking at a discussion programme organised by Women Security Pressure Group today in the capital.

"When we tried to draw the attention of the PM towards the case, but the PM said he had no time," she said, adding, "This atypical response from the PM denotes that the state does not really want to listen to women's issue and give justice to the victims."

Shrestha urged for the formation of a joint-struggle committee to pressurise the government through a massive advocacy campaign on the injustice suffered by the victim.

Renu Rajbhandari, President, Women's Rehabilitation Center, said the government would have to bow down to women pressure groups if they organise a sit-in in front of the offices of the PM and the Home Minister.

“In a normal situation, rape-accused are taken into custody in first instance for investigation. In Achham's rape case, the accused are allowed to go scot-free even after filing the case," she said.

She claimed that the incident that took place in Accham was 'intentional' one. “Failure of this victim to get justice will amount to failure of all women."

Radha Lawati, a CA member and central member of CPN-UML said that the culprits were roaming about freely instead of being punished due to the security cover provided by the political parties.

Stating that the rule of law in the country has reached to its lowest ebb, she urged all the women across the country to collectively exert pressure on the government to re-establish it.

However, Mira Dhungana, senior advocate at the Forum for Women, Law and Development, said that the PM was positive about their concern when they apprised him of the situation during a recent meeting.