Press Statement
AIDWA condemns the statement made by the RSS Supremo Mohan Bhagwat, reported in some leading newspapers on 4.1.13 that rape is prevalent mainly in cities where Indians are deeply influenced by western values, and not by rural India. The reported comment that such crimes hardly occur in “bharat” - exposes a total disconnect with women’s experience across India, and the extent of sexual violence and assault being suffered by women in rural India. There is sufficient evidence from NCRB data which disproves his assertion, and shows the extent of rapes and sexual crimes across regions, not only restricted to urban India. AIDWA condemns the attempt to trivialize the horrendous degree of suffering especially of poor, tribal, dalit, landless sections who have been victims of repeated onslaughts by the elite and powerful sections of feudal society. Such statements are an added injustice to women who have already been denied their rights and dignity. This attempt to drive a wedge in the popular protest in support of women’s entitlement to a violence free life cannot be tolerated by the democratic women’s movement. We assert that the India versus Bharat divide that is propounded by the RSS, and which has been repeated by Shri Bhagwat will be rebutted by the united voice of the Indian people who have risen up in protest against sexual violence and attacks on women in our country.
AIDWA condemns the statement made by the RSS Supremo Mohan Bhagwat, reported in some leading newspapers on 4.1.13 that rape is prevalent mainly in cities where Indians are deeply influenced by western values, and not by rural India. The reported comment that such crimes hardly occur in “bharat” - exposes a total disconnect with women’s experience across India, and the extent of sexual violence and assault being suffered by women in rural India. There is sufficient evidence from NCRB data which disproves his assertion, and shows the extent of rapes and sexual crimes across regions, not only restricted to urban India. AIDWA condemns the attempt to trivialize the horrendous degree of suffering especially of poor, tribal, dalit, landless sections who have been victims of repeated onslaughts by the elite and powerful sections of feudal society. Such statements are an added injustice to women who have already been denied their rights and dignity. This attempt to drive a wedge in the popular protest in support of women’s entitlement to a violence free life cannot be tolerated by the democratic women’s movement. We assert that the India versus Bharat divide that is propounded by the RSS, and which has been repeated by Shri Bhagwat will be rebutted by the united voice of the Indian people who have risen up in protest against sexual violence and attacks on women in our country.
No comments:
Post a Comment