How often do we refer google for images or sourcing ? Similarly for this article, i referred google for images. I noticed it provided me with an option to filter my search. To my surprise, the option of victims was placed on 3rd number. Wondering what was the 1st and 2nd .......... HINDU and MUSLIMS. When will we start putting people accountable on their acts and not on their religious believes.
The men who gang raped women in Muzaffarnagar shouldn't be addressed as Muslims, the women who were gang raped and threatened shouldn't be addressed as Hindu's. Our judiciary provides a simple term for both the parties, Victim and culprit. One who should be punished, the other one who should be brought to justice.
We stand 5 years from the horrific riots, several women were gang raped and threatened. Several people killed, several lost their home, several lost their dignity, and UP government lost our trust. The one thing which won over everything else was Politics of Communalism.
How it all started ?
• 21 December 2012: A youth named ........ (you will derive the religious aspect from the name, or won't you? ) raped his 15-year old neighbour .
• 24 December 2012: Three youths named ............(you will derive the religious aspect from the name, or won't you? ) a 14 year old girl in Shamli.
• 18 February 2013: Four men named .............(you will derive the religious aspect from the name, or won't you? ) gang raped a 30-year old woman and filmed the event in the Bhopa police jurisdiction in Sikhri village, Muzaffarnagar district.
• 8 Jul 2013: Man shot dead for demanding arrest of gang rapists. The alleged murderers were named ..........................(you will derive the religious aspect from the name, or won't you? )
• 23 August 2013: Five youth gang raped a Class X student in Miranpur town (Muzaffarnagar district).
• 24 Aug 2013: A Class IX student was raped by a youth named ...... (you will derive the religious aspect from the name, or won't you? ) in Muzaffarnagar.
These and similar other incidents were not quickly and adequately acted upon by the UP administration leading to a simmering anger on the part of the Hindus that eventually reached a flash point. But that is not all.
• 27 August 2013: Some men from Kawal village used to regularly eve-tease two girls who were students hailing from the Jansath police jurisdiction in Muzaffarnagar district. Brothers of the aforementioned girls, went to speak the culprits about the eve-teasing and in the process, a scuffle ensued the culprit was injured. In retaliation, a group of his friends beat up the brothers , both of who died on the spot. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Manjul Saini and District Magistrate (DM) Surendra Saini reached the spot. Action was taken immediately and seven culprits were arrested. The police also recovered bloodstained clothes from neighbouring houses. However, the Government immediately transferred the SSP and the DM and released the culprits.
• 28 August 2013: An announcement is made to organize a condolence meeting to mourn the deaths of the brothers in the Nagla Madaud village.
• 29 August 2013: The Bharatiya Kisan Union announces its decision to attend the condolence meeting (Panchayat).
• 30 August 2013: After the Friday prayers, a large crowd of religious fanatics gathered at the Shaheed Chowk outside their holy place. . The BSP Member of Parliament Kadir Rana, ex-MP Syed Dujma, his son Salman Syed, BSP MLA Noor Salim Rana, Mirpur MLA Maulana Zameel, SP party secretary Rashid Siddiqui, Councillor Asad Jama, and ex-Councillor Naushad Quershi deliver inflammatory speeches against the Hindu community. Kadir Rana declared that “should the condolence meeting actually take place, not even a child should escape alive from there.”
• 31 August 2013: In the condolence meeting (Panchayat) organized in Nagla Madaud, a demand is made that the murderers of the brothers should be arrested within seven days and that the FIR against victim's family should be quashed. A decision was taken to reconvene the Panchayat on 7 September 2013 at Nagla Madaud.
• 7 September 2013: On their way back from the Panchayat at Nagla Madaud, unarmed farmers were brutally assaulted by some religious groups at Purbaliyan, Jolly Nahar, Madeda and nearby places. In this attack, ANother religious fanatic group of different religion from the villages of Rahmatpur, Tejlaheda, Kakda, Soram, Baseda, Kakrala, Bhokrahdi, Chachrahuli-Baseda, Gadla, Nirgajni, Tevda, and Behda were seriously injured. Tractors, trolleys and motorbikes were burnt.
Post that, several people died, women raped and government held believes of opposite religion accountable. Till today there are women who haven't brought to justice and are being constantly threatened, several have died in the process while others have withdrew their complaint in the fear of victims harming them or their family.
As we advocate for empowering women, for them to stand for themselves, do we really consider the threats they have to face while doing the same.
Are they ready to put the security of their kids and family at stake. Shouldn't we advocate for safeguarding their security first rather than criticizing them to not take a stand for themselves ?