Six years back, a 23-old-woman was brutally raped in a moving bus on the streets of the national capital. Nirbhaya’s horrendous case shook the roots of Indian judiciary, giving our nation the much-needed amendments in laws against rape. But, did the nationwide protest help in making our country and especially Delhi, a safer place for women? A city where women can safely roam around on the streets at midnight, unlike Nirbhaya?
No! And this answer comes not from us but from the so-called protectors and guards of our nation, the police!
Last night, we walked from Saket to Munirka. 30 of us. Midnight to 2. The route #JyotiSinghPandey took 6 yrs back. No slogans, no posters. Cops kept following us, insisting we take autos. They were unsure of the safety of 30 women walking together on #DelhiRoads at night #Dec16 pic.twitter.com/sHBFoYMOT8
— Neha Dixit (@nehadixit123) December 16, 2018
On 16 December, this year, 30 women decided to march onto the same route that Nirbhaya aka Jyoti Singh Pandey took, six years back, with her friend to return to her home at midnight. Without any candles, slogans or banners in hand, these women headed on the route from Saket to Munirka between 12 am to 2 am. Police officers were, no doubt, on their duty, providing safety to these women on the march. But, they also kept on insisting them take autos as they were concerned about their safety.
Because walking on the streets of Delhi after midnight is NOT SAFE!
The free advice from Delhi Police to these women will, certainly, leave you stunned. After the several alarming rape cases of Unnao, Kathua, Surat and Lucknow that shook the nation this year, a piece of such “advice” coming from Delhi police, only makes us wonder ‘how many more Nirbhayas will this nation cost to work in favour of women safety?’