What a reaction to another rape in Delhi, this time in a Uber taxi: ban Uber and other online taxi services. What next? After next rape, ban other forms of transport as well? What’s the guarantee that rapists will not board public buses, local trains, auto-rickshaws or private taxis still plying on Delhi streets? Didn’t Uber’s rapist driver possess a valid license, a tourist permit and must have been cleared by the transport department? If banning a transport company is the solution, then in no time most of the Delhi will be on foot. What about Uber service in other Indian cities, why not ban them over there as well?
Obviously it was a knee-jerk symbolic reaction by Delhi government, of no lasting value and impact on the menace of rape engulfing the Indian cities especially its capital (nicknamed as Rape Capital of the world). But this is not limited to Delhi only, there are regular reports of rapes from other areas, while many remain hidden from media.
There is no point in banning transport companies, advising womenfolk on their choice of work places and the dresses they want to wear; problem lies somewhere else. Of course, there are frequent debates and discussions on social media and TV screens, but has any one pointed out what role Bollywood is playing by presenting female as a commodity to a host of frustrated men. Someone may say Bollywood is producing what its viewers want to see; why can’t it be other way round? Most of the movies or their item-songs are not clean enough to be seen along with the family. But apparently government in India has many other prior issues to tackle — rebuilding of Ram temple in Ayodhya, declaring religious scripture Bhagavad Gita as a national book, making teaching of ancient Sanskrit as third language, bring back Muslims and Christians to their forefathers’ religion’s fold, the list goes on of the fronts BJP government and its right-wing allies have created for themselves. One day rape will appear on their radar, just wait for that day.
Is really India stepping into the 21st century?
Masood Khan
Jubail, Saudi Arabia
