Five years ago, the horrifying fatal gang rape of 23-year-old Nirbhaya had shaken the nation. We thought this was the wake-up call for our country to snap out of the chauvinistic mentality. Although the accused in the case were all identified and arrested, it took us five long years to pronounce a verdict.
A lot has been changed and reformed since then, but we still have a long way to go. Asha Devi, Nirabhaya’s mother broke down when the verdict was announced in December 2017.
Recently, Karnataka’s ex-DGP, HT Sangliana passed a disgusting comment at an event honouring women. His comment on Asha Devi’s ‘physique’ and how women should surrender to rapists to save themselves caused quite an outrage and rightly so.
1. We couldn’t believe it either.
If this is represents the mindset of Indian men especially those in top positions of society, then my God we have sooo far to go! I can’t believe theses statements were said at a women’s empowerment event. https://t.co/327dry1jsX
— Andy Kumar (@iAmVJAndy) March 16, 2018
2. Yes, it did, sadly.
Can someone please confirm .. Did this actually happen..??!https://t.co/VJ9YjmU7jf
— Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) March 16, 2018
3. Very serious.
Are. You. Fucking. Serious!? https://t.co/h5hfVNaYzS
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) March 16, 2018
He has responded to the backlash he received and it is even more enraging than the comment.
Sangliana thinks his comment was meant as a ‘compliment’ and he is sorry for those who misinterpreted it.
As per a report by the Deccan Chronicle, the 74-year-old said,
“I said that Nirbhaya’s mother has a good physique and I can imagine how beautiful her girl must have been. I paid them a compliment. What’s wrong with it? I was not being disrespectful to Nirbhaya and her mother. It’s a non-issue, which is being blown out of proportion.”
In a series of tweets, ANI reported the exact response from both, Sangliana and Asha Devi.
I consider my statement to be totally within the limit and I feel people are making an issue out of a non-issue: HT Sangliana, former Karnataka DGP on his states that 2012 Delhi rape victim's mother had 'good physique' pic.twitter.com/As6SqNR3jP
— ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2018
In a second tweet, ANI reported that he further went on to defend his statement for women surrendering themselves by saying,
“I said it in order to emphasise the importance of protection & security to women, they should be given protection at all times.”
Asha Devi also responded to his comments and her answer is something we all need to hear.
It would have been better if he had spoken about our struggle than making a personal remark. It shows that people's mentalities in our society has not changed: Asha Devi, Mother of 2012 Delhi gangrape victim over former Karnataka DGP HT Sangliana's remarks pic.twitter.com/F5VY5Z1sD0
— ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2018
As per an NDTV report, she further added,
“The way he made comments on me, it shows the mentality of our society which hasn’t changed yet. He should have seen the struggle that we have gone through all these six years. If the society hasn’t changed these years, it is because of these type of people and their mentality.”
His comment was disgraceful, to say the least. But the fact that he doesn’t even think it was wrong at all is exactly what is wrong with our country and our people. Even in the face of glaring reality checks, people like him, an ex top-cop, don’t see the wrong in their words or actions.
We may have come a long way, but change is still far away from us.