BOYS AND GIRLS INTERACT MORE’ MAMATA BANERJEE’S 2012 STATEMENT ON WHY RAPE HAPPENS GOES VIRAL
By Nityaasini Sivagami
NEW DELHI, INDIA 18TH AUGUST : Following the rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata, large protests were held nationwide. Social media has also become a hub of public outrage, with criticism directed at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. (The Times of India) A 2012 statement she made has resurfaced, where she linked the rise in rape cases to increased interactions between boys and girls. (The Times of India) “Rape cases are on the rise because boys and girls interact more freely now,” Mamata had stated. In the past, parents would catch men and women holding hands and chastise them, but these days, everything is so public. It resembles a free market with unrestricted choices. The declaration has sparked renewed ire, fueling the planned protests. (The Times of India)
She was not just a doctor. She was a HUMAN. She was someone’s sister, daughter, and whole life, taken away for no fault of her own. It shakes the entire city how a woman leader can be so cold toward such brutality in her state. The doctor might have been 19 years old when she read about Nirbhaya. She might have thought it was the worst thing that could happen to a woman. She might have hoped the country would change, would become better. Sadly, she was wrong. We failed her.
When something heinous like this happens, the impact is beyond repair. Some effects are so subtle we don’t even notice them. After such an event, in smaller towns, parents might hesitate to send their daughters out, many will lose opportunities for higher education, and women at work may feel unsafe during late-night shifts. In smaller places, a girl has to fight many challenges to pursue basic dreams, and such events make it even harder. Imagine doing nothing wrong, simply seeking opportunities to fulfill your dreams, only to have your chance to grow snatched away due to someone else’s wrongdoing. Safety and the right to grow are basic needs. We can’t let this continue. A society that does not protect and respect its women cannot claim to be civilized.
A major Incident shakes the entire country, people protest, things don’t change, and people forget. This pattern never breaks. We must ensure this social media outrage doesn’t stop until justice is delivered.
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