Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh described the widespread practice of aborting female fetuses as a
"national shame" and called for stricter enforcement of laws devised to prevent doctors from helping parents to avoid the birth of unwanted daughters"No nation, no society, no community can hold its head high and claim to be part of the civilized world if it condones the practice of discriminating against one half of humanity represented by women," Mr. Singh said, giving an inaugural speech at a national conference dedicating to "saving the girl child," which brought together politicians, doctors and advocates.
Describing female feticide as "inhuman, uncivilized and reprehensible," he said the government had a responsibility to crack down on the large numbers of Indian doctors who illegally reveal the sex of the fetus to the parents, and then arrange abortions to get rid of unwanted girls.
