Check out 16 Return-To-Work Programs In India For Ambitious Women Like You!
Trigger Warning: This deals with rape /gang rape/ sexual assault/ victim blaming/ victim shaming/ assault of minors and may be triggering for survivors.
Was she actually raped? Was she pregnant? Was there some other reason? Did someone slap her? Was she sick?
These were the statements, rather the counter questions, of West Bengal’s CM when asked about her views on what happened at Hanskhali in Nadia district of the state.
For those who are unaware, a fourteen year old girl, student of Class 9, died due to excessive bleeding after an alleged gang-rape. She was then hurriedly cremated on April 5. The girl was allegedly gang-raped on April 4 at the birthday party celebrations at the house of ruling party’s Panchayat official’s son.
The complaint was lodged on April 10 by the girl’s family, and the CM’s insensitive comments came on April 11. She even went on to express doubts over the cause of minor girl’s demise.
She went on to say unacceptable things like – This was a case of love affair. The family knew of it, the neighbours knew. If boys and girls fall in love, I cannot intervene.
Furthermore, she added – The girl died on April 5 but complaint was lodged on April 10. If there were doubts over her death, why wasn’t the complaint lodged right on that day?
The remarks have drawn negative and angry reactions from all sides – opposition, rights activists, girl’s family, general public, and National Commission for Women. The High Court has asked CBI to look into the matter which only proves their distrust for local police handling the case. One of the petitions before the High Court read- even the highest executive of the state is calling it to be an incident of love affair, hence, people do not have faith that the state police machinery will carry out a fair investigation
What’s sad here is the extent of insensitivity shown by a woman. It’s degrading, and also, terrifying.
Raising doubts over the cause of the minor’s death without proper investigation, calling her pregnant, or sick, and blaming her family for acting late is utterly disrespectful and shameful.
We do not know the circumstances under which she was cremated/ forced to be cremated and/or the state of forensic reports. We also do not know if the family was under pressure to not lodge the complaint. It’s always very difficult to go against the influential.
For the unversed, any sex with a minor is rape. There is no question of love affair and/or consent. This is a POCSO case. There are special laws to deal with the cases of sexual assault on minors. To say that she cannot intervene and that everyone knew of the affair is a direct intention to bring shame to the girl and her family and putting them under the spotlight and blaming them yet again.
And it is beyond comprehension to say that someone could die of bleeding after being slapped.
There is a lot more to the story and the girl’s family seeks answers.
The remarks are not only highly condemnable and triggering, they also attempt to influence the investigation. One must understand that going against the influential always takes longer time, especially if they belong to the ruling party because of their power over the state police.
Two people have been arrested so far. The main accused is, apparently, not a minor.
CM then sent one of the Members of Parliament, a known face and a vocal voice of her political party, to go meet the girl’s family. But the damaged had been done already. This damage control measure is purposeless now. The family needed support, protection and prompt action and assistance earlier, not now, when everyone is waking up because the news has caused a stir. Madam CM’s words have already done irreversible and irreparable damage.
This also comes at a time when, according to Newsworthy With Anubha Bhonsale, in the last 40 days, at least 15 cases of rape have been reported in West Bengal, in many of which the accused are members of the ruling party of the state of West Bengal – March 3, South 24 Parganas; March 22, Basirhaat; April 1, Burdwan; April 10, Bolpur – cases being some of them.
For a party whose slogan is Maa, Maati, Maanush it’s, time to see Maa, Maati and Maanush not through the political lens. It’s time to see things first as a human and then as a politician, it’s time to be human, it’s time to be more approachable and not act or say things on an impulse, especially if one is at as significant a position as that of the elected executive head of the state machinery.
That goes for all state, but sadly, madam CM lost the opportunity to set an example for the rest of the CMs.
Mostly writing, other times painting. Here to celebrate little wins. I am on the same page as you, just a different book - you read mine, I'll read yours. read more...
Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
Neena was the sole caregiver of Amma and though one would think that Amma was dependent on her, Neena felt otherwise.
Neena inhaled the aroma that emanated from the pan and took a deep breath. The aroma of cumin interspersed with butter transported her back to the modest kitchen in her native village. She could picture her father standing in the kitchen wearing his white crisp kurta as he made delectable concoctions for his only daughter.
Neena grew up in a home where both her parents worked together in tandem to keep the house up and running. She had a blissful childhood in her modest two-room house. The house was small but every nook and cranny gave her memories of a lifetime. Neena’s young heart imagined that her life would follow the same cheerful course. But how wrong she was!
When she was sixteen, the catastrophic clutches of destiny snatched away her parents. They passed away in a road accident and Neena was devastated. Relatives thronged her now gloomy house and soon it was decided that she should be married off.
Being a writer, Nivedita Louis recognises the struggles of a first-time woman writer and helps many articulate their voice with development, content edits as a publisher.
“I usually write during night”, says author Nivedita Louis during our conversation. Chuckling she continues,” It’s easier then to focus solely on writing. Nivedita Louis is a writer, with varied interests and one of the founders of Her Stories, a feminist publishing house, based in Chennai.
In a candid conversation she shared her journey from small-town Tamil Nadu to becoming a history buff, an award-winning author and now a publisher.
Nivedita was born and raised in a small town in Tamil Nadu. It was for schooling that she first arrived in Chennai. Then known as Madras, she recalls being awed by the city. Her love-story with the city, its people and thus began which continues till date. She credits her perseverance and passion to make a difference to her days as a vocational student among the elite sections of Madras.
Please enter your email address