Today the country woke up to
the heart wrenching news about the death of the 23 year old rape victim died at
the Mt. Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore. The brave heart who fought for
survival for so many days and finally the angel today flew away to the heaven.
But the kind of outrage that she sparked before passing away is incredible. And
today as I write this article, I really wish if she could see the massive
support which brought together people from each and every corner of the
country. Today as we haven’t seen her or known her real name for even once,
that is how she has become the daughter of every family in this country.
The massive protests in the
streets of Delhi and the rest of the country have been remarkable. Young voices
across sections of society came together to show solidarity towards the rape
victim and also demand justice against the perpetrators. The movement,
extremely peaceful and spontaneous had in real sense today shaken the pillars
of our political establishment. So much so that the three times elected Chief
Minister of New Dlhi, Ms. Sheila Dixit was not even allowed to enter the
protest site and was rather booed away by the protestors. And no one was
allowed to garner political benefits out of the situation.
Throughout the week preceding
the death of the 23 year old brave heart have indeed been a mixed bag of both
bitter and some really sour experiences. Instead of feeling the anger and
anguish of the people, our so-called elected representatives didn’t shy away to
pass bizzare comments as the nation demanded for justice. Whether its Congress
MP, Abhijit Mukherjee’s ‘Dented and Painted’ remark about the protestors or TMC
MLA, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar’s comment wherein she tried to call the Park Street
Rape less serious than the Delhi one. I mean what kind of a world are they
staying in? They’re in total disconnect with the voice of millions who are
there on the streets of Delhi.
What does it take for the all-powerful
politicians with every possible facility required to call for a special session
of parliament and pass stringent laws when there is so much public uproar? When
the parliament was attacked in 2002, they could call a special session of
parliament to pass the Prevention of Terrorism Act (2002) but when the women of
the country are attacked, it takes so much of discussions and deliberations to
call a session, why? I ask when the government will act firm on these cowards
who commit the most heinous act a human being can ever indulge in. As a matter
of suggestion, they shouldn’t even be referred as human beings anymore.
Through this forum I would
like to raise the opinions of what the Young India wants from our government in
quick bulleted points:
- The government must call a Special session of the Parliament to amend certain sections of CrPC and make it more stringent.
- Rape should be made a non-bailable offense. Attempt to rape should be held par se with rape.
- Terms such as eve-teasing should be replaced with Sexual Assault and a proper Sexual Assault Bill must be passed to punish the guilty.
- There should strict punishments such as Chemical Castration and Public Execution to inculcate fear among people.
- A serious of Police, Judicial as well as Political Reforms must be initiated to sensitize them against any case of violence against women.
- Effective helplines should be made available for the victims so that help is neing meted out in time.
- No person should be allowed to fight elections having criminal charges assigned against him which deal with violence against women.
Today as the entire country
mourns, where are the politicians who are more often seen in television debates
than in the parliament? Its time they feel the heat of the moment and act back.
No more will the youth of the nation can be fooled and cornered away. Because
this time the politicians are not setting the agenda for them instead they’re
setting the agenda for them. No more can they be called mere urban candlelight
protestors marching on the streets because we must now remind ourselves with
the new clarion call of the youth that:
‘Its better to hold a candle than to hold a lathi’.
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