#Outrage at MG Road club ban Locals say it will help them reclaim Gurugram lifeline
REACTIONS A day after HT’S report, citizens criticise ban on entry of single women at clubs
NEW DELHI: Social media was on Wednesday abuzz with criticism of the move to deny single women entry to clubs in Gurugram’s MG Road with some users calling it archaic while others accusing the establishment of trying to play the guardian.
The Hindustan Times reported on Wednesday that clubs on MG Road were denying entry to women, who were not accompanied by husbands after the police conducted raids in the area on July 3 to check alleged solicitation and immoral trafficking, and club owners decided that the easiest way to avoid a repeat was to not allow any single women into their premises.
Following the police raids, Hindustan Times had visited five clubs for a spot check on two consecutive nights. The news report gave accounts of how pubs on MG Road were denying access to women who had come alone or with a male friend or partner.
Club owners said they were doing this only to prevent police action as the cops suspected them of harbouring sex workers.
People took to the social media to dissect the decision, saying applying restrictions on women’s mobility was regressive.
“Reading this (the story) feels like reading a memoir of the early 1920s,” wrote Tilak Kamath on Twitter.
“Welcome to the guardianship system. You know what’s in store in the future and where this will all end up (sic),” posted @saif_sound on the microblogging site.
Women expressed their shock and said the move “reeked of gender bias”.
“Any bloody excuse. Women were always secondary in horrid Haryana,” tweeted Divya Guha, a journalist.
After the crackdown, the clubs at MG Road, known to get crowded mostly around dinner time, allowed women only if they could show that their husband was in tow and both carried a proof of their marriage.
“Face of the our own neo-liberal capitalism. And all the Reading this (the story) feels like reading a memoir of the early 1920 — Tilak Kamath Welcome to the guardianship system. You know what’s in store in the future and where this will all end up — @saif
Any bloody excuse. Women were always secondary in horrid Haryana — Divya Guha misogyny and heteropatriarchy that the system encourages #scary (sic),” wrote a user with the handle @yomegh.
Calling the move ridiculous, Facebook user, Vinay Saini wrote that it was akin to asking residents not to leave their homes at night in order to avoid thefts. “In other words, police admits Face of the our own neo-liberal capitalism. And all the misogyny and heteropatriarchy that the system encourages #scary...police admits that they are helpless to catch the culprits — yomegh
Same is with boys. Stag entry — Varun Sharma, referring to curbs on single entry of men that they are helpless to catch ththe culprits (sic),” he wrote.
Some people also drew parallel with the curbs on single entries of men applied at some clubs. Pankaj Aggarwal, a Facebook user, said the issue should be looked at positively.
“In some discos single entry is banned for men also so it is to be look in positive manner only (sic),” wrote Aggarwal.
“Same is with boys. Stag entry,” tweeted Varun Sharma.
Others felt that the issue could be resolved by doing away with pubs.
Sasmita Mohanty wrote on Facebook, “Isn’t it better still to close these places because they are unsafe? One wonders! (sic).”
Abhinna Kumar Hota, another user, supported Mohanty. “Sasmita’s comment is something to pause and wonder. Do you really need places unsafe for our women?” he said in a post on Facebook.
Women’s rights activists also said that it was wrong to deny anyone access to such recreational places.
“The district administration should immediately intervene. Keeping women away from public places is not the solution; prompt action against offenders is what is needed to check harassment of women,” said Maya John, women’s rights activist with Centre for Struggling Women, an organisation which focusses on issues that concern women. GURUGRAM: Residents of colonies around MG Road are happy that the clubs on the notorious 2.5-km mall mile are denying entry to single women, following a crackdown by the police last week.
Describing the police action as “much- needed”, they said it will help improve law and order situation in the area as incidents of visitors engaging in brawls and alleged solicitation had become frequent.
Residents said they will now reclaim their ‘lifeline’ and can visit the malls again. “We have not been to these malls (on MG Road) in the last three years, not even for shopping. Because of the police action, we can visit our favourite places and don’t have to go the malls located far away from our area,” ssaid Smriti Chabbra, who has been living in DLF Phase 2 for hhe past two decades
The residents said that law annd order situation at MG Road haad deteriorated over the last few years with the opening of multiple pubs and bars in the area. They alleged that cases of fights among “women”, and their “handlers”, who visited the mall daily had ensured that it remained out of bound for the locals.
“It is quite a well thought out move to ban single entries, be it male or female, in the pubs as it will help the police to check several illegal activities. Some may term it a regressive step but if you consider the current lawlessness, you will agree that it is a welcome decision. Our complex had suffered initially due to the alleged solicitation but we took steps to control it and were backed by area police officers,” said Rajeev Sinha, former president, Essel Tower RWA.
“The ban should continue for at least two months after which it can be lifted. This will ensure peace for the residents,” Sinha said.
Locals also alleged that since it was an “organised business” the police failed to take action despite repeated complaints. It was only when drunk men and women entered scuffled with the police officials, or there were clashes between the guests and bouncers at pubs that action was taken against offenders, they said.
“Initially, they ran their trade from the pubs. Later, they came out on the streets. Drunk men and women could be seen roaming in the area from 10 pm to 12 pm. We had complained to the police over a dozen times in the last five years but this is the first time that some action has been taken. This will change the image of MG Road and restore city’s lifeline to residents,” said Vinod Tayal, vice-president, DLF Phase 2 RWA.
Last May, the residents of MG Road had launched a community initiative to “reclaim the city’s lifeline”. \
Archana Saxena, a resident of Heritage City on MG Road, had piloted the drive and involved residents of all condominiums and residential complexes around MG Road.
“We had stopped going to malls in this area and instead preferred to visit Sohna Road or Golf Course Road. The latest decision is very good. This will go a long way in creating a safe environment for our women in the city,” Saxena said.
Police said the action will continue. “We want to provide a safe atmosphere to the residents. People living near the malls (on MG Road) had complained in the past too,” said KK Rao, Gurugram police commissioner.
PEOPLE TOOK TO THE SOCIAL MEDIA TO DISSECT THE DECISION, SAYING APPLYING RESTRICTIONS ON WOMEN’S MOBILITY WAS REGRESSIVE