Bangalore joins nation, grieves over Delhi rape victim's death

Hundreds of students, professionals, NGO organisations, mothers, fathers, and even children were found all across the city on Saturday paying tribute to the deceased Delhi rape victim but they also called for concrete action from the government to bring the perpetrators of the crime to swift justice.

Outside Cubbon Park, over 25 various organisations and over 100 people came together in the evening to ensure their voices were heard. Ruth Manorama, general secretary of Women’s Voice, one of the main organisers of the event said the various institutions in the country that are in place to ensure justice for women should be gender sensitised.

“I am very grieved with what’s happened but we have to note that such incidents have been happening for ages now. The laws that are supposed to protect women are not being correctly implemented. Institutions are not functioning properly enough. Bangalore should rise to the occasion. Gender justice should be taught to men and women from a young age and the media should also be sensitised to report these matters better,” she said.

Shubha Chacko, a member of Anekha, a group that works for women’s rights said that there should a decentralised justice system and more amenities should be provided by the government.

“There are simple things the government can do like ensuring better public transport and providing more street lights. And the procedure for lodging a complaint with the police should be made more sensitive for women. No one should come out ask why a woman was out at a particular time, wearing a particular dress and doing a particular action. It should be a woman’s prerogative,” she said.

Mysore Bank Circle was also one of the main venues for a protest organised by the All India Mahila Sanskritik Sangathan in association with the All India Democratic Youth Organisation and the All India Democratic Student Organisation. The protest, which was attended by eminent litterateur UR Ananthamurthy  and veteran theatre personality HG Somashekar Rao, saw them express their condolences. “Today is one of the black days in India's history. We feel shame to live in such a society,” said Rao.

Condolences
The Union government should bring an amendment to the law to punish the miscreants severely. Our government is committed to protecting women.
—Jagadish Shettar, chief minister

Atrocities against women are intolerable in India, where women have a holy place in
social life.
—KS Eshwarappa, Deputy CM

The New Delhi incident is a failure of the system as well as of society. There is no deterrent punishment for rapists. There is no fear among rapists about the punishment. Rape cases are not disposed of quickly. The long and tedious process makes witnesses hostile, and the people who fight the case will lose interest. ... Society is responsible for the occurrence of such incidents as it sees women as an object of lust ... She is being marketed. Hence I blame both the system and society for such incidents.
—S Suresh kumar, law and parliamentary affairs minister

The unfortunate girl was dealt with in a criminal way. All the criminals should be hanged without any consideration. The system should see to it that the criminals also should suffer like the victim did. We welcome any decision along these lines.
—Mallikaprasad, BJP MLA from Puttur

There has been an increase in the number of rapes, which is alarming. Until moral education is taught to children along with the education they get, individuals can’t be good human beings and it results in the deterioration of values in society. ... The situation in Bangalore is equally bad.
—CS Nadagouda,
Congress MLA from Muddebihal

The incident should not have happened in a country like India where women are revered. It is an incident of shame and insult for all Indians. Our administration and police are not doing their job properly. ... Even after the Delhi incident we have seen at least 25 cases of rape across the country.
—BN Vijaykumar, BJP MLA from Jayanagar

It’s a most disgusting and inhumane incident that has happened in the country. ... I can only say that stringent action should be initiated against the accused. The process should happen faster. Then there would be fear among people about indulging in such crimes. Death punishment would be the suitable for the accused persons.
—M Krishnappa, MLA Bangalore South

Every school administration should take up counselling for students at the high-school level itself regarding rape and other evil crimes. ... Most rapes are committed by relatives of the girl and not by outsiders. It is very difficult to provide police security to each person. If this crime has to be stopped, the government should bring stringent rules by amending the law to punish the rapist. Public participation is very important to prevent crime.
—K Poornima, Basavanapura ward corporator
Severe punishment should be given to the rapist who has done the heinous crime. Meanwhile, girls should also wear decent dresses. Educational institutions should train the students on morality, but, ironically, most youths are influenced by television and learn the bad things that are showed in programmes.
—Nazani Begum, Padarayanapura ward corporator

The recent reports of rape cases across the country indicate the existence of social evil. Society should evolve a system to fight against this social evil. Laws should be enforced strictly and investigating agencies should be punished for failure to register complaints pertaining to rape cases.
—Justice Santosh Hegde, former Lokayukta

I hope these perpetrators are dealt with and given the justice we all want. This girl has given up her life in such a brutal way. Justice should not be denied. We need to stop the apathy society has towards such cases of sexual assault and molestation. There is a pressing need to change the legislation to deal with such heinous, serious crimes against women. Self-defence alone will be of no use. We need to catalyse the process of ensuring the safety of our women, through increased helplines, for instance. Technology needs to be used in a big way to ensure women have access to help when they need it. The present problem lies in the societal attitude towards women. For instance, the comments that are being passed from some quarters, even those holding powerful posts, pointing fault at women — commenting on their dressing, women should not be out at this time, etc — is shameful. We need to change the moral fabric and mindset of our society, and this should start in every home from a young age.
—Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, chairman and managing director, Biocon Limited

In India, being sexist goes unnoticed because it is so prevalent and we see that at every stage of our lives. Girls are discriminated against at every level — be it the school, the workplace, public places or even in their own homes. Changing the law or having more police around is not the solution. Change can only happen when the nation is sensitised. Be it the portrayal of women in the media or the way they are treated at home, changing the mindset of the people is the answer.
—Samyukta Hornad, actress

I am numbed by her death. The government need not wait to file murder charges and take action now. I don’t think any city, including Bangalore, is safe for women.
—Meghana Gaonkar, actress

Bangalore, I can say, is certainly not safe for women any more. Even when we walk on the street to a nearby shop, there are boys and older men eveteasing, chain-snatching and committing other villainous and disgusting activities. This incident should open the shut eyes of lawmakers. The government needs to punish the accused severely in public to bring about the consciousness in other men to think a million times before they go about molesting or raping a woman.
—Arpita, a young Bangalorean