By and large, women in Delhi on Thursday said that they found Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Babulal Gaur’s controversial comment on rape objectionable, but said that not all men may be the problem as far as rape is concerned, but needed to be part of the solution.
The Communications Officer at the Programme on Women’s Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (PWESCR) and Delhi resident Devika Parashar, said this today.
“I think that mindsets have to change, and this isn’t easy, but is necessary. The first step is to understand that we can’t consider the safety of women a pursuit only of women, because, while all men might not be the problem, all men have to be part of the solution,” said Parashar.
” Men and women in positions of power in every field most necessarily need to be sensitive about these issues, otherwise, this is going to get difficult,” she added.
The country has lately been witnessing innumerable social outrages against insensitive remarks made by ministers starting from Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav’s ‘boys will be boys’ remark to the recent remark made by Gaur defending the former and saying that rape is a human tendency and cannot be stopped.
Social activist Ranjana Kumari said that the ones who should stop rapes are themselves accusing women, and therefore, should be arrested and strictly punished.
“Babu Lal Gaur, Akhilesh and Mulayam, should rethink about their attitude. One who should stop rapes and crime against women in the country, are accusing women of the injustice done to them. These people should be arrested and strictly punished,” said Kumari.
Gaur also said that women need to have sportsman’s life, and should learn judo and karate to counter such incidents, instead of stressing on the need to devise ways to make the country safer for the fairer sex.
“I feel the remark doesn’t necessarily blame women, and says, that it is they who are responsible for such crimes. Therefore, I think that there is no harm in being alert, which has been rightly pointed by the minister, but at the same time, having a lax attitude towards governance and security is also wrong,” said Shivani Jain, a resident of Delhi.
“As a home minister he cannot take his responsibilities for granted. These ministers have been elected for a reason and they must live upto it,” she added.
Other women said that Gaur should be more concerned about ensuring law and order instead of defending fellow politicians.
“I feel that while Gaur is right to ask women to be more alert and learn self-defense to be able to stand up to such assaults, he should be more concerned about ensuring law and order instead of defending fellow politicians on such matters,” said another Delhi resident.
Earlier today, Congress workers protested outside Gaur’s house over his remark on rape.
Gaur was also quoted as saying that Akhilesh Yadav and his father and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav should not be blamed for the rape incidents in Uttar Pradesh, as the rapists do not tell beforehand that they are going to rape.
Gaur’s controversial statement has raised questions as to how a three-year-old or an eighty-year-old woman can defend themselves from rapists.
The comment has left many outraged, as it comes ten days after the Badaun rape and murder case. (ANI)