Two incidents in India have moved beyond being a “case” or
“statistic” and have become war cries. The horrendous Nirbhaya gang rape (the
gang rape of the Mumbai photographer is also in the same league) and the
high-handed expulsion of IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal. Both created public
outrage.
But has there been any outcome?
Nirbhaya
People came out in large numbers onto the streets in New
Delhi demanding immediate action against Nirbhaya’s rapists and more protection
for the women in India. As expected, there has been no outcome. The trial of
the rapists is still waiting to be heard.
The one judgement that has come has been in the case of the "minor" who has been reported as "the most brutal of all" in the police chargesheet. No other punishment has been doled out. This is almost nine months after the incident.
The one judgement that has come has been in the case of the "minor" who has been reported as "the most brutal of all" in the police chargesheet. No other punishment has been doled out. This is almost nine months after the incident.
The number of rapes reported in the media has increased.
Each report contains a crime worse than the other. No strong law for protection
of women has been put into place. There is no enhanced vigilance or enforcement
of punitive action. Nothing to deter the dirt in the society from spreading
their filth. Nothing to frighten rapists enough to never perpetuate their
heinous crimes.
Durga Shakti Nagpal
The Supreme Court rejected a pro-Nagpal PIL. The Uttar
Pradesh government has transferred the District Magistrate who had given a
verdict in Nagpal’s favour in the mosque wall demolition case.
The magistrate
has been ostensibly “transferred” but he hasn’t been given his next duty, while
he has already been replaced.
The UP government never backed down from its stand that it
will not re-instate Nagpal. They are probably biding their time for the
hue-and-cry to die down. The outrage has already abated, and no action has been
taken.
Where does the fault for all the inaction lie? Does it lie
with the people for not following things to a conclusion? Is it entirely with
politicians for their callousness? Is it with the judiciary that does not
operate quickly enough? Does the fault lie with all of them – a beaten down
public; arrogant and uncaring politicians; a listless judiciary -- equally?