If the scorching heat amidst sweltering electioneering wasn’t
hot enough, some prurient parlour games have been added a heady potent to the
mix.
At the centre of the affair is JD(S) MP and its Hassan
candidate Prajwal Revanna accused of
sexually exploiting several women -- Government employees, house helps,
unorganised sector -- over many years after more than
2000 explicit videos appeared on social media. If this was bad news,
another woman also named his father Holenarasipura MLA Revanna for abusing her
from 2019-22 resulting in his arrest. Both are grandson and son of ex-Prime
Minister Deve Gowda.
Predictably, a blame game has started. While Revanna’s
brother and former Chief Minister Kumaraswamy has distanced the Party from the
matter. BJP which has partnered JD(S) in Karnataka has accused the Congress
Government of letting Prajwal flee the country, against the backdrop it took
three long days before the State Government blinked and formed a Special
Investigation Team to nail the truth. With and a look-out circular and a Blue
corner alert, Prajwal is slated to return in a day or two.
Sensing an opportunity to hit back at BJP, Congress’s Rahul
accused it of aligning with a “mass rapist” and “always protecting” those who
commit crimes against women. Besides, asking Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to
help the victims. Yawn.
Why am I not shocked? Primarily, as, it is not the first
time a politician has been caught with his pants down. Over the years there
have been many instances of our Right Honourables exploiting high offices for
sexual favours. Beginning with ex-Defence Minister Jagjivan Ram son Suresh’s affair
in the 70’s down Andhra Governor ND Tiwari sexual romp with three women 2009
alongside acknowledging a 34-year old as his son after a paternity test.
Former UP Samajwadi bahubali
Amarmani Tripathi extra-marital affair with poetess Madhumita Shukla 2007, Ex-Haryana
Minister Gopal Kunda accused in an air hostess suicide 2012, Madhya Pradesh
Minister Raghavji for abusing his domestic help by promising Government job
2013, junior Union Foreign Minister Akbar singed by ‘Me-Too’ 2018, BJP ex-MP
Brij Bhushan Singh accused by female wrestlers last year ditto ex-Haryana
Sports Minister and ex-hockey captain Sandeep Singh accused by a junior coach resigned.
In a country where netas
dalliances are seen as mere peccadilloes and accepted with a wink or
‘weaponised’ by rivals, has the latest controversy changed anything? No. Fobbed
off as political mudslinging between two Parties, ‘honey-trap-by-rivals-out-to-get-him’
or reduced to entertainment distractions, a tamasha.
Questionably, at what point do we say enough is enough?
There are hundreds of instances of courage where women have come out to accost
their predators. Political masters and blatant misogynist have ensured that
political, corporate, sports film worlds thrive on dirty games to flaunt their
masculinity. Association for Democratic Reform found over 134 sitting MPs and
MlAs accused of crimes against women.
Raising a moot point: Why are women viewed as sex objects? A
plaything of males to satisfy their libido and massage their egos? Why are we
so complacent when it come reporting sexual crimes?
Clearly, in a society which lives with the regressive
mindset that freedom and equality for women tantamount to promiscuity, we swing
between two extremes. One where a girl child is bad news and nurtured on
“conform” paranoia: Not to rock the boat, be fearful of what lies around the
corner and subjecting them to countless restrictions in the name of women’s
protection. Whereby fathers make the rules, husbands enforce them and male
bosses reiterate them, speaking out against someone’s wrong doing is tough.
A girl raped by one of her male relatives in locked in the
precincts of her home, is told to keep quite to avoid repercussions on the
facetious pretext of ‘what will people say’ and ‘nobody will marry you.’
Several women who face sexual abuse at work stay quite in order to avoid
further harassment and unwanted attention. Or are hesitant to speak out fearing
they will be dubbed ‘loose charactered’ at best or ostracized at worst. Either
which way the damage is done. Getting
married and raising kids is the core of female existence. Sic.
Not a few women complain that they are viewed as sex objects
and mince-meat for male lust camouflaged as human animals to either comply or
reconcile to battling it out at every level. To rise professionally they need a
‘godfather’ who can make or break them.
Perhaps it has something to do with our patriarchal lineage
and misogynistic culture. Whereby, we show utter disregard and disrespect for
women.... rape, marital rapes, sexual assault and systemic harassment et al. A
culture that believes that the worst aspect of rape is the defilement of the
victim, who will no longer be able to find a man to marry her — and that the
only solution is to marry the rapist.
Recently, Karnataka’s Home Minister blamed “western culture
these things do happen”. Really? Added another, “The more skin women show it’s
like if there's gasoline, there will be fire. If there's spilt sugar, ants will
gravitate towards it.” Cooed another, “Girls shouldn’t wear jeans and exposing
clothes, it is against desi sabhyata….
They have no business to be driving around at 2 am in the morning.” Disgusting,
to say the least.
In an era when political image is branded like detergents,
our netas completely disregard the
fact that they have failed miserably in making our cities safe for its people.
Crimes against women have more than tripled over the past ten years, according
to National Crime Records Bureau’s latest data.
Notwithstanding the #Me Too campaign, in a society where the
national narrative conditions people to think that sexual harassment has no
consequences; where sex crimes are dismissed as result of an imbalanced sex
ratio; and where women have little or no cultural respect, it is going to be a
steep uphill to change what is just par for the course.
Where does one go from here? Given that this oppressive
atrocity against women will get worse, not better. Clearly our leaders need to
pay heed and address this seriously. For starters why haven’t our policing laws
been strengthened? Laws tightened which would deter men to think thousand times
before they commit crime?
Our education system needs to emphasise the importance of
gender equality and eradicate the sick male mindset. We need to change our
approach to sexual harassment. One option is radical feminism to make a social
impact and safety of women should be an important article of faith with people,
society and Government. Along-with dignity, equal opportunity and independence
of thought and action.
To that end, we need stricter laws that ensure that those
found guilty of workplace harassment are punished. The Vishakha judgment
guidelines provide many safeguards, like having an “appropriate complaints
mechanism with a complaints committee” at all. Parties should constitute an
Internal Complaints Committee.
Clearly, a revolutionary change is needed. The
Constitution has given equal rights to women. Merely mouthing platitudes of
freedom will no longer work. We need cry a halt to women being playthings of
voyeuristic men. Will women continue to constitute the weaker gender? Continue
to rot at the hands of lecherous, predatory or pedophile men? Will we break new
ground and unshackle women? A time to
introspect and say Times Up. Enough of sexual harassment
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