At a time when the citizens of India are taking up the cause of violence against women in an unprecedented united manner, and the mood of the country as a whole is of anger at the suppression and disrespect of women in a chauvinistic society, it is shocking that men holding the highest offices in the four pillars of democracy in the country have been found to perpetrate the demeaning and violent acts of sexual harassment against women. It is a matter of great concern that cases are coming to light even now where Supreme Court judges, police officers, prominent media personnel and politicians have been guilty of rape and sexual harassment in its many forms. It is a symptom of the patriarchal system that exists in our society and the complete impunity with which the perpetrators get away with their crimes.
It is the duty of those in positions of responsibility, and of those who are in the public eye, to act with the highest moral standards and ethics. The youth of the nation look towards these individuals as role models. Such perpetrators cannot be above the law but must be seen by the public to go through the same process of investigation and punishment that must follow such a complaint.
At a time when women are rising in their professions and gaining top positions in their fields, both nationally and globally, it is this insecurity felt by men in power that seeks to crush the spirit of women by domination through sexual violence and with threats of dire consequences if the offence is reported. It is shameful that we still have to fight for a safe working environment for women, and for the surety of punishment and redressal, despite all the laws that have been enacted. It is the non-implementation of these laws, the complicity of the keepers of the law, the gender unequal treatment at home and at the workplace that perpetuate the constant discrimination against women despite the clear Constitutional provision of the equal status of women.
NFIW strongly condemns the actions of Tarun Tejpal, founder editor of the investigative news magazine Tehelka, a man whose writings have always revolved around the moral and ethical aspects of the news items published in his magazine. The sense of disappointment and the feeling of being let down is all the more intense because of what he and his magazine sought to represent to the people.
NFIW also condemns the trivialization of the horrific incident by the management of Tehelka by treating it as an “internal matter” and “an untoward incident” and believing that a mere apology and casual self assigned farcical punishment would substitute for due process of law.
This case also brings out the concern that there is no Sexual Harassment Committee set up in many public offices, despite The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 having come into force in April this year, making such a committee mandatory in all government and private companies.
The other alarming case is of the recent reports of Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat and contender for the position of the Prime Minister of India in the coming Lok Sabha elections, Amit Shah, the then Home Minister of Gujarat and GL Singhal, Superintendent of the Gujarat Anti Terrorist Squad, misusing Government machinery and funds to stalk a young woman architect and put her under continuous surveillance for entirely personal reasons. None of them have denied these charges as of now. The questions that arise – is ours really a free, democratic governance? Where is the respect for personal privacy and rights?
At the very least, do Modi and Shah not fall under the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, for stalking?
It gets worse. A Judge of the Supreme Court of India, the apex court of the country, has been charged with sexual harassment by a woman intern. She has also formally brought to light that hers was not an isolated case and that women are subjected to such humiliating experiences regularly in the judiciary.
Unless these cases are taken up by our law enforcing agencies in a transparent and unbiased manner and unless due punishment is meted out to the perpetrators, the people of this country will lose faith in the credibility of these apex institutions, the pillars of our democracy.
We urge all women to be strong and make full use of the provisions in the laws so that these act as real deterrents for the perpetration of crimes against women. We reiterate our demand that the laws of our country be fully implemented in letter and spirit.
National Federation of Indian Women
National Federation of Indian Women 