dailyO
Politics

Clean up your own government first, Mr Modi

Advertisement
Jyotiraditya Scindia
Jyotiraditya ScindiaDec 17, 2014 | 11:27

Clean up your own government first, Mr Modi

It has been two years since a barbaric act beyond human imagination rocked the nation on this very day. What happened on the streets of New Delhi on that fateful night of December 16, 2012 brought thousands of youngsters to the street. The government of the day took note of this spontaneous and massive public outrage and almost immediately made certain drastic changes in the laws that regulated punishment and prosecution for crimes such as rape and molestation.

Advertisement

That the perpetrators of such a ghastly crime are still away from the gallows only highlights the fact that much has to be done. The recent case of rape of a 27-year-old woman by a cab driver in Delhi once again reminded us that our laws have perhaps failed to instil a sense of fear in the minds of criminals. Without swift action and stringent provisions in the law, we can’t expect these spine-chilling incidents to go away from the country. It’s definitely important to create awareness and sensitize society to prevent crimes against women but efficacy of the laws is also equally important. And this will also happen once people see quick and strong actions in multiple cases.

I have read that the mother of the girl who was brutally raped on December 16, 2012 wants to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to request him to launch a drive against crimes. She wants him to ensure a crime free India the way he promises to create a clean India. But can we really expect a crime free or clean India from him? The drive must start from his own home, which is his council of ministers. How can one expect the prime minister to take serious steps to ensure safety of women in India when he has a minister who is accused of raping a woman? There is a saying in Hindi: "doosro pe ungli uthane se pehle apne girewan pe jhaanke dekhna chahiye" (One must look inside before pointing fingers at others). The prime minister first set an example. Otherwise, as I have mentioned earlier, the criminals will never feel the fear of consequences.

Advertisement
Last updated: December 17, 2014 | 11:27
IN THIS STORY
Please log in
I agree with DailyO's privacy policy