President Ram Nath Kovind rejects Nirbhaya gang-rape convict Mukesh Singh's mercy plea, victims parents welcome move

"I am happy with the verdict and thank President for his decision," Nirbhaya's father told media.

"I welcome the decision taken by the President. But it will only be impactful if they are hanged on January 22," her mother Asha Devi told  media.

"I appeal the government and the court to ensure they are hanged on Jan 22," she said.

Amid the blamegame between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which rules Delhi, over the delay in execution of the convicts, Asha Devi told media that people who had protested in 2012 are now playing with her daughter for political points. 

The Union Home Ministry had earlier forwarded Mukesh's mercy petition to the President.

All the four accused- Mukesh, Vinay Sharma, Akshay Kumar Singh and Pawan Gupta- were to be hanged at 7 am on Jan 22.

However the Delhi government had informed the Delhi High Court that the hanging can't take place as Mukesh had filed a mercy plea.

On Dec 16, 2012, Nirbhaya, who was a 23-year female physiotherapy intern, was gang-raped, assaulted and tortured at a private bus in Delhi when she was travelling with her friend.

She was raped by six people including the driver of the bus.

The victim had succumbed to her injuries 13 days after the horrific crime was committed.

The incident had sparked national and international outrage. Both the state and central government were brought under the scanner for not providing adequate protection to women in the national capital.