In the first 8 months of 2021, India saw a 46% rise in complaints involving crimes against women and more than half of these complaints were from Uttar Pradesh. According to Hindustan Times, the National Commission for Women submitted a report wherein it was revealed that 10,084 complaints were filed in the state. However, several cases of atrocities against women go unreported across the country.
Just a few days after the NCW revealed this data, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, made a public statement regarding women’s safety in the state. He claimed that both women and cattle are safe in UP. Republic quoted him saying:
“Previously, daughters, sisters felt unsafe in UP. Even if an ordinary bullock cart goes through Western UP, the cows and buffaloes felt unsafe. These problems were not in Eastern UP but were in Western UP. But today, can anyone forcibly kidnap any cow, bullock or woman? Can we not see the difference?”
Have a look at the video here:
"Earlier our daughters, sisters felt unsafe. Even buffaloes and bulls did not feel safe…But it's not the same today. Can you not see the difference?": Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath pic.twitter.com/kwWC66Ag6K
— NDTV (@ndtv) September 14, 2021
The Uttar Pradesh CM’s statement has faced tremendous backlash online. Several people accused him of comparing women to cattle and slammed him for the same. Have a look:
He literally used women and cattle in the same sentence. He thinks safety for women is the same as safety of cattle. There is no future for this state.
— aakash mehrotra 🏳️🌈 (@aakashmehrotra) September 14, 2021
By comparing safety of our daughters, sisters with buffaloes and bulls you can judge the criteria/ thinking for them for women safety. https://t.co/0EzPRceZZN
— ARJUN ARORA (@sahaab_arora) September 14, 2021
Are women equal to bulls and buffaloes? Ye kya ho raha hai? He bhagwan sabko sadbuddhi de! https://t.co/qMcxZTHTPo
— Kumkum Sinha (@kumkum_sinha15) September 14, 2021
Daughters, buffaloes, bulls…. What elegance! https://t.co/pVxRRsxS1m
— PatralekhaChatterjee পত্রলেখা চ্যাটার্জী (She/Her) (@patralekha2011) September 14, 2021
Great mentality of UP CM who is comparing women with buffaloes and bulls. This clearly states his mindset about women. According to him, women's are like bulls and buffaloes.@NayakRagini https://t.co/eN9Kh7pnqb
— Prateek Saxena (@prateeksaxena31) September 14, 2021
I live in UP and I Don't feel safe travelling alone in night, what are you talking about???? https://t.co/d7w32PZ9kU
— Swati Pandey (@Swatisaying) September 14, 2021
Interesting use of women and cattle in the same sentence. https://t.co/ewWt1uY6Ab
— Sudaksh Soti (@sudakshsoti) September 14, 2021
I know we should feel outraged that the CM of the most populous Indian state considers women and cattle safety to be mentioned in the same breath is apt but please dont lose sight of the fact that the statement is a total lie. Horrific rapes take place on daily basis in UP https://t.co/JbhxoVwAlm
— Babumoshai (@Bong_in_Delhi) September 14, 2021
Apart from the fact that the UP Chief Minister spoke of women and cattle in the same sentence, it's awkward that this comment comes on the day when a year ago, a girl in Hathras was raped and brutalized, followed by administrative harassment for the family members. https://t.co/v5zXm7L5cC
— Abhishek Baxi (@baxiabhishek) September 14, 2021
Wow, there's hardly any difference between women and cattle – that's how the CM views the issue of women's safety! #Misogyny #Patriarchi #Regressive #Mindset https://t.co/9zt37jcIyI
— Abhishek G. Bhaya अभिषेक অভিষেক ابھیشک 加冕礼 (@abhishekbhaya) September 14, 2021
What do you think of the Chief Minister’s statement? Tell us.