Director-General of Police V. Dinesh Reddy found himself in a tight spot while replying to a question on the increase in rape cases in the State during the annual press conference on the crime situation on Friday. The cases went up from 1,228 to 1,291 till November this year.
‘Provocative dresses'
To the question by a reporter, Mr. Reddy linked the growth in cases in rural areas to ‘provocative dresses' worn by women.
Even in districts where women wore the traditional sari, he said, the trend was to switch to more fashionable, revealing garb.
He also said that the diet of men had something to do with the cases going up. These were factors on which the police had no control.
In the face of an uproar after the news was flashed by TV channels, the DGP stated in a press release that his remarks were misinterpreted.
Demand for apology
The comments of Mr. Reddy were condemned by women's organisations. Shobha Hymavathi, president of Telugu Mahila, demanded a public apology from Mr. Reddy. She sought to know from Mr. Reddy whether the murder of Ayesha in Vijayawada had also to do with lack of a dress code.
Keywords: Dinesh Reddy, Andhra Pradesh police, DGP controversy
Comments:
DGP seems to have been frustrated at these happenings. It would be fit on the part of police officers to take stern action on FBI guidelines to warn the delinquent boys not to trespass the modesty of women under any circumstances. Policemen must be selected only on merit without any interview, imparted rigorous training for 3 years and given a new a more pleasing dress code under reforms.
this is an independent country every women & me have right to wear what they want, A police man's responsibility is to protect the people of nation, I don't see their is any mistake of women if the are changing the trends, In fact is a good sign towards modern India...
Sounds like he is from the Taliban ideology. Some one with these type of view points should be taken out from service. Rape cases should be dealt with an iron fist. What is reported is probably only a fraction of what is happening and molestation's may not even count.Authorities who can not take proper action in time should also be dealt with firm and fast action.
I am a male but violating a persons right is not proper for a democratic society. Larger part of Indian society needs to move out of the old feudal and patriarchal thought process. I like to think that >most of southern part of India is far ahead of North; may be not of all of south. Politicians is part of the problem. Community organizations have to rise up to deal with situations like this since it is almost impossible to individuals to make change.
Is he a disciple of Osama Bib Laden, forcing women to wrap up head to toe. India is a democratic republic, women and men have the right to dress to their choice. Being a public servant his comment shows promoting violence on modern dressed women.
The feminist media has misinterpreted the DGP's statement. He has
clearly said that provocative dressing is one of the many reasons for
rape. Rape is a very complex psychological issue. One of the factors is
definitely the dress code. The media seems to have us believe that a
woman's way of dressing has nothing to do with men's arousal - the
feminist way of thinking (read rights without responsibilities). Its
high time the media stops fooling the people. Stop misinterpreting
facts. Don't twist news as it suits you.
What DGP said is correct to some extent. Clothes are to cover body,
otherwise there is no meaning to clothes. We all can as well roam like
animals with out them. The so called
protesters will never allow their family members to roam with such
clothing/makeup. Indians are becoming intolerant of any suggestions, it
is rather a bad trend. Attraction is a biological phenomena, this will
become more with revealing clothes and revealing shapes. Hope the Indian
society understands this.
Mr Reddy's seem to be saying that the men who rape are innocent and the
girls (women) who get raped are guilty. Ludicrous, I say.
I would agree with Mr. Dinesh Reddy on the issue. The day something
wrong happens with the family of the president of this or any of such
Mahila associations, I would like to hear their comments. They say
even law punishes more severely the people who instigate the doer of
the crime. In some rape cases, the instigator is none but the victims
themselves. The comments by the DGP should not be looked at like that
of an MCP. He is only advising caution in order to avoid more
incidents from happening. The words are just as good as a sign board
reading "Wear Helmets to protect yourself". It's really amusing to see
such reactions from Mahila Associations.
Now that rape and related crimes on women are addressed, the next thing we can expect from the police is a statement about homicides, burglaries, etc. After all, what can the poor police do if the murderer kills because the victim is temptingly vulnerable or the thief steals because the victim was ostentatiously displaying his wealth? The police of course were anyway busy settling land deals, dowry cases, etc. So, where's the time for cases where the victim was at fault for some reason or the other?
Rape cases are on the increase because of a variety of reasons 1. A traditional family, is the building block of Indian society and civilization. 2. The family system has safeguarded our traditions, scriptures and thought over millennium against foreign invasions, pestilence and nature's fury. 3. Now that family is under attack. 4. A spate of false dowry cases and false DV cases combined with usurious maintenance cases has broken the Indian Family 5. Marriages are made in heaven but are broken in all women police stations .... says an illustrious judgement of the Honourable Madras High Court 6. Break down of the family, lack of avenues of proper marriage, usurious demands by WOMEN and so called women's lib ...which is alien to our society has lead to violence BOTH against elders and women 7. Rape and orpahns are outcomes .... 8. We hope that "the Hindu" with its track record" can discern this trend and alert the society in time
The Director-General of Police V. Dinesh Reddy cannot hide the inefficiency of the
police by saying that if women look less attractive then they would not be raped.
Does he say that the police cannot protect women who look beautiful? Does he say
that women have to mutilate their faces to feel safe in Andra Pradesh?
The comments by DGP was outright sexist but what i could not understand is the comments by the readers. it is apalling to put it very mildly. One of my friends Ajita Kamal made a very valid point and hope one can take cue from this humanistic call to show zero tolerance to violence against women: "These people who make these justifications are so barbaric and primitive in their thinking that they do not have the capacity to understand that feeling a sexual urge is not a license to assault another human being! ...To these men, a woman is merely an object, so of course when they feel a sexual urge they do not see a person in front of them, just an object to be attained and used to satisfy their urges"
In India we see a lot of small children running around naked. Should this be an invitation for pedophilia? What about a man not wearing a shirt, is that invitation for being sodomized? However, it is a reality today that women who dress "provocatively" will attract more attention, not sure if this is always true but seems like this is just what happens. Should women give up their freedom and start living within closed doors?
The LAW should do its job and the rest of us should strike the right balance between our desires, freedom and precaution. The DGP should be given some sensitivity training,maybe that is all that is needed.