WE must recall the words of the late Jawaharlal Nehru: “You can tell the condition of the nation by looking at the status of women.” To say the brutal rape of a young paramedic by a group of men recently was ‘shameful’ would be a gross understatement. The incident has really shamed the world’s largest democracy where women’s rights should be taken as granted. A host of laws have been passed to enable women to fight

oppression.
Yet the ground reality remains as dismal as ever. Safety of women in India has always been a cause for consternation throwing to the winds all talk of women’s emancipation.
The 23-year old women’s horrific death only proves why India was named one of the most dangerous countries in the world for women by the New York Times only recently. “This reprehensible crime reflects an alarming trend in India which basks in its success as a growing business and technological mecca, but tolerates shocking abuse of women,” it says. The brutal assault has once again confirmed that atrocities against women are a routine affair in India. Yet the issue of gender abuse and discrimination is exploited by political parties to appeal to their core vote, much like a travelling circus drums up an audience. Clearly, gender is not a priority with a national government content with tokenism. Even genuinely well- meaning policies, barely scratch the surface. The real issues of literacy, health, empowerment and security are often lost in the rhetoric. Not surprisingly, this apathy and callousness only aggravate the situation and pave the way for more crimes.
Chief Minister Sheila Dixit’s statement that she will “expedite the case” is not enough to protect women. We live in a time when crimes against women-which climbed over 2.25 lakh in 2011 according to the National Crime Records Bureau, are growing alarmingly. Shocking instances of rape continue to hit the headlines. It is disgusting that even after the Delhi gang rape case there have been continuous reports of rapes taking place in various parts of the country. It is a shame that when people have taken to protests in a big way against the crime. Most cases are being reported everyday. This underscores the need for better policing and strict implementation of laws. Rather than punish a culprit after the crime, it is necessary to curb the cause of crimes against women.
That our politicians are insensitive to the issues related to  women’s safety is proved time and again by their utterances. Politicians in India have tended to deal with women’s rights somewhat gingerly. They may have passed some progressive bills in Parliament and state assemblies such as the ones on domestic violence and property rights. At the same time, few politicians take a public stand against gender-based violence of course, every time there is a dastardly incident such as rape, many of them may come out and make statements in public but these can be classified  either as opposition statements against the government or simple fulminations reflecting public outrage. Very few can actually be termed as unqualified support for women to dress as they please, go where and when they please and still deserve full support and protection of the law. The compulsion of vote bank politics deters them from standing up for women’s rights. This is why the retrograde measures of Khaps and religious groups are at best met with a stoic silence by parties across the political spectrum.
This anti-women bias was on display when Abhjit Mukerjee, a Congress MP remarked that the women who came out to protest against the gang rape of the 23- year-old women were “dented and painted”, which was indeed shocking. Mr. Mukherjee’s comment exposed the utter insensitivity of politicians to genuine public anger over a heinous act that has appalled the entire nation. He must realise that it was the “nautanki” which jolted the complacent administration into action. No apology can reverse the hurt caused to the protestors in general and women in particular. The MP would do well to realise that people do not enjoy lathi blows, water cannons and tear gas but they cannot turn a blind eye to an issue that concerns all. They are on the streets out of compulsion not choice.
Sadly, Mr. Mukherjee is not the only public figure to voice such regressive and gender discriminatory views in the aftermath of the recent gang rape incident. Another West Bengal politician, Mr. Anisur Rahman of the Communist Party of India, echoed the same appalling stand by making an offensive remark against Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee. Earlier also, Andhra Pradesh Congress President Butcha Satyanarayana dismissed the rape as a” small incident” saying that women shouldn’t go out during late hours. Such views, common in medieval times have no legitimacy in modern democracy. Our laws have to protect women irrespective of how they dress, behave or live their lives. We need to deal with predators prowling the streets of Delhi and elsewhere so that women enjoy their freedom. But unfortunately, the party men are ducking behind these backward comments to hide the government’s failure to ensure the security of  citizens. One wonders how a mature democracy can tolerate such indifference and insensitivity from leaders. When such insensitivity exists among those who are expected to take care of the vulnerable sections of society, it explains why crimes against women continue to be on the rise. This explains why only one in four accused is convicted. Also, the pendency of rape cases in trial courts has increased from 78% to 83%.
What malodorous disease could lead a group of men to perpetrate brutality on young women in a moving bus, as if they were engaged in some casual sport? Surely, this appalling crime is more than just a reflection on a criminal group of men and the deteriorating law and order situation in our country. Indeed, it should hold up a mirror to all of us and ask what has gone so horribly wrong in our society. India, which is on the fast track to development, has still not shed its feudal, orthodox mindset about women who constitute half of the population. Violence against women stems from our patriarchal setup. The recent gang rape is not just a case of heinous crime. It is also about how society treats women. We need to have stringent laws to punish the rapist. But the law will act as a deterrent only when we implement it, irrespective of whether the perpetrator is a father, brother or a neighbour.
Our society neither shames nor shuns criminals in its midst. In fact, one third of MLAs face criminal charges including rape. It rejects the hypocrisy of our society the former president Ms Pratibha Patil appended her signature and seal to presidential pardons for men who raped and killed young girls and were sentenced to death. How does a man who molested a teenage girl driving her to suicide rise through the ranks of IPS to become the Chief of Haryana police? When Ms Sheila Dixit says good girls stay home at night does so because her knowns it will find resonance with vast sections of masses. What does it say of us as a people and a nation?
The gruesome incident has triggered a torrent of questions in our minds. Can young girls ever walk freely on the streets? Do their relatives need to be wary when they step out? While the gang rape has highly agitated  all right- thinking people, the official response is on the expected lines – will bring culprits to book, fast track the case and so on. In a few months, rapists may get bail. Media headlines will became a footnote. Political pressure will come into play after the case fades out of public memory. The tragedy is, another similar incident will recur with similar public outcry and state reaction.
The spontaneous anger and upsurge of youth across the country should be routed into positive actions which would ensure safety and security of our women folk. Severe punishment should be meted out to culprits. We all as a society have a role to play if a young woman is raped or killed. In the 21st century, the least that India owes to its women is the right to be safe both within and outside their homes.