Another rape in Delhi, where are we heading?

17^th December 2012: Another dark date in the history of modern India. In a horrific incident that took place in New Delhi, a 23 year old girl was gang raped in a private moving bus by five men and then flung off the bus. Accompany her was her friend who was mercilessly beaten up with iron rods when confronted. As of now a case has been registered under Article 376 of the Indian Penal Code and four accused arrested. The Chief Minister of New Delhi has also ordered the immediate cancellation of the license of the bus after the incident. But the bigger question persists, is it enough?

According to a relative of the victim, at around 9-9.30 at night, both the victims got on the white deluxe luxury for returning back home. While inside the bus, there were already 5-7 staff members present who later started to misbehave with the girl. When the guy protested, her was mercilessly beaten up and the girl was dragged to the bus cabin and then gang raped by five men. The girl now is fighting for her life in the hospital. Such is the pathetic condition of law and order in the country, especially in New Delhi which could by now be well tagged as the national capital of crime.

Reacting to the incident, I found the comment of the National Spokesperson of the Congress very interesting. When asked for comments on the case, she said “That she thinks that the old fashioned way that earlier used to be followed in the district of shaving off the heads of the accused, blacken their faces and made to sit in a donkey while they are being roamed in the entire area is the best punishment for such third grade cowards who think that by raping women they prove themselves to be men”. It was indeed a very strong reaction that came from a very senior Congress Spokesperson.

The biggest irony of the case is the fact that area where the incident took place is a very thickly populated area. The entire stretch from Munirka to Mahipalpur, no part is sparsely populated and it is not possible that the police or the general citizens were not present there. Yet none choose to stand up to it and lend a helping hand. This proves how ignorant we have become that even the plight of a person can’t melt our hearts. That we have become so dumb that even the screams of pain and horror are never been heard by us. How could we even blame others when we are ourselves can’t stand against it?

The Parliament also witnessed uproar about the case with a united opposition stalling the question hour in Rajya Sabha demanding an immediate statement by home minister Sushil kumar Shinde on the issue. In the Lok Sabha, members led by Shahnawaz Hussain (BJP) raised the matter and demanded suspension of question hour. But, members took their seats after Speaker Meira Kumar assured them that they would be allowed to raise it during zero hour.Reacting to it, Speaker Meira Kumar said "This is a serious issue. This is a heinous act. I will allow you to raise the matter during zero hour,”

Today not only this case but the many other innumerable cases that are happening one after other asks only one question. How much is enough? Today if you go to a police station to register a case of eve-teasing, the police refuses to register complain and instead blames the victim of improper dressing. Who gave them the right to question the dressing of the girl, his job is to follow the law and not question the victim. But who seems to care. Today no one dares to stand up and say ‘Don’t tell the girls how to dress, instead tell men not to rape”.

As the year comes to an end, such incidences one after another are only reiterating a single point of how bad our country’s law and order situation is. But as I said earlier, who cares after all? Neither the administration nor the police and not even we as the citizens of this country seem to care as so many innocent girls need to bear the wrath of such cowards. It’s high time we rise up and fight against these injustices. Only a cooperated effort can let us remove it from its very grassroots.