Even as protests continued at Jantar Mantar, a large number of people took out a silent peace march on Wednesday, demanding safety for women and justice to the 23-year-old medical student who died after being gang-raped and brutally assaulted. Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit flagged off and participated in the “Mahila Suraksha Samman March” from Bal Bhavan to Rajghat in the National Capital.
With placards which said “Ensure safety of women” and “Have some shame, respect women”, the participants highlighted that a radical change was required in the way safety of women is perceived and approached not only by the authorities but also by the common man on the street.
Reflecting the nation-wide public outrage against the increasing cases of sexual assault and violence against women, Radhika, a management professional, said: “Patience of the country’s women is running out. We need a system which respects women and do some introspection, instead of blaming the rape victim for provoking men. You cannot just rape somebody and blame the person.”
Another participant Latika highlighted what she called “fear quotient” for women on Delhi streets. “The fear quotient for women on the streets is quite high. We do not come out on the streets after eight at night unless it is an emergency. Delhi is not a choice option for women of the country precisely because the very idea of staying in the city endangers our existence,” she said during the march organised by the Delhi Commission for Women.
At Rajghat the participants observed a minute long silence in memory of the gang-rape victim and Bapu’s bhajans were played.
