SPEAK UP ON CRIME AGAINST WOMEN: YOGI ADITYANATH
LUCKNOW: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday called upon girls and women, in particular, and people, in general, not to stay silent when crime against women is committed.
Speaking at the HT Woman-2018 Awards function, he said: “Those who remain silent on crime against women or crime against the country will meet the same fate as the characters of the Mahabharat.” He explained: “When Draupadi had asked all in the assembly as to who was responsible for her ‘cheerharan (disrobing), Vidur said, ‘one-third responsibility is of the criminals, one-third of their friends and one-third of those who chose to remain mute spectators’.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday called upon girls and women in particular and people in general not to stay silent when crime against women is committed.
Speaking at the HT Woman2018 Awards function, he said: “Those who remain silent on crime against women or crime against the country will meet the same fate as the characters of the Mahabharat.”
He explained: “When Draupadi had asked all in the assembly as to who was responsible for her ‘cheerharan (disrobing), Vidur said, ‘one-third responsibility is of the criminals, onethird of their friends and onethird of those who chose to remain mute spectators’.
“Whether the abuser is from home, a relative, or a relative’s friend, why don’t we come forward and speak up to get the abuser punished? When the society comes forward against abusers, then the law will follow you,” he said.
Sounding a note of caution, he said: “Till some elements in the society eulogise figures like Mahishasur, Ravan, Duryodhan, or Dushasan, the safety of women and girls will always be under threat.”
“Remember, how the efforts were made to eulogise the attackers of Parliament? Do not publicise and eulogise the duracharis (wrongdoers) and apradhis (offenders),” he said.
Talking about the steps his government took for women’s safety, he said: “When we had been campaigning (for 2017 UP assembly polls), we noticed that many people were either not sending girls to school in western UP or sending them to hostels or to relatives in eastern parts for studying. There was a concern about girls’ safety. So, on assuming power, we announced antiRomeo squads at all police stations. It became a talking point, and the issue was such that one would come under criticism either way, dealing with or not dealing with it.”
He said: “Despite criticism, we persisted (with anti-Romeo squads), so girls could fearlessly go to school, college, come back home, go to markets and public events.” “The standard of safety and security of women is when a girl can get down at a bus station, railway station, or an airport late at night and reach home safely. That can be the standard of women’s safety and security. But when we take steps to achieve such a goal, then we are questioned about human rights. Are all the laws for criminals, terrorists, extremists, or Naxalities? Can’t a common man have rights?” he asked.
The chief minister also said: “I would like to thank Hindustan Times for organising a novel event like this that connects to various aspects related to women’s safety and security. I praise HT for providing a platform to women achievers through this annual event for the last eight years.”
“I congratulate all the women nominees and winners from all walks of life who have shown the way to the society in their own way. And I assure them all that our government honours their feelings and gives top priority to women’s security and will stand by them,” he said.
Yogi, who also is the chief priest of Gorakhnath Math, said: “Dharma makes us aware of our duties, conduct and morals. But it is unfortunate that we have limited the system of dharma to rituals and separated it from the overall system.”Yogi said many opinions and suggestions had come forth about discrimination between girls and boys or how to change societies’ outlook towards girls and women.
“Today, is also important as the UP board results will come out. I think once again the girls will surpass the boys in the exam,” he said. (When the exam results were declared later in the day, girls continued to maintain supremacy over boys.)
“Why can’t the society give equal importance to boys and girls?... We must stop discrimination right at the birth of a child,” he told the gathering.
About his demand for death penalty for rapists of minors, Yogi said “Elaborate steps and initiatives are required to prevent crime against girls and women. Ten days ago, I held a meeting and decided to demand death penalty for the rape of minor girls. The Union cabinet has passed it and soon an ordinance will be promulgated ,” he said.