What happened in
New Delhi on last Saturday and Sunday was
perhaps unexpected for most of us, particularly for the Delhi authorities and the police. What
happened in New Delhi
on Saturday and Sunday was unprecedented for sure for the national capital. And
therefore, the situation led to more debates about several other aspects and
these are still raging. But the crucial debate following the brutal gangrape of
a 23 year old girl in Delhi
remains and is getting stronger day by day. “We Want Justice!” “Safety For
Women Must Be Ensured!” 
Thousands of
young students, boys and girls, descended on the most protected areas of Delhi right from the
Saturday morning. Taken aback by the size and the unexpectedness, the police
resorted to water cannons, tear gas shells and lathi charge giving rise to the
debate if the police failed to handle a peaceful demonstration properly. There was
violence in terms of stone pelting from the students leading to another debate
if anti-social or political opportunist elements infiltrated the movement. Compelled
by the size and the unexpectedness the Government of India announced measures
that very day by evening. Proposed steps included making the rape laws
stringent and paving the way for death penalty in rarest of rare cases, setting
up of a judicial commission on women safety, suspension of several Delhi police
officers for neglect of duty and others. But young India wanted immediate justice—severe
punishment for the rapists and complete post trauma care for the victim.
The authorities
and the police promulgated Section 144 to stop congregations, closed down
several metro railway stations and blocked many roads leading to the VIP areas.
But the Young India Movement defied everything and on Sunday thousands
descended on the India Gate premises. As the upsurge tried to cross and break
every barricade the police again resorted to stronger tactics. Violence of
various forms broke out with injuries sustained on both sides. One police
constable, Subhas Tomar, got severely injured due to alleged beating by youths
and succumbed to his injuries today. The other debates got all the stronger.
Young India maintained
that the peaceful nature of their Movement For Change and cried about police
atrocities on innocent kids and even pregnant ladies. The police maintained its
facts about the alleged infiltration and that the situation forced it to resort
to strong measures. Several stock political opportunists and leaders took
advantage of the mass upsurge to make mileage out of it and the death of the
police constable and subsequent arrests made the situation delicate.
The main
opposition political parties showed less concern for the issue and more for
having another opportunity to pressurize and corner the Government leading to
another debate if politicization of the issue would further slow down the process
of justice for women. The Prime Minister of India addressed the nation
yesterday appealing to all for maintaining calm, but the opposition parties
still found it insufficient reiterating the demand for a special session of
Parliament and all party meetings. Fortunately the 23 year old girl is better
today, though still critical.
The thousands on
the streets are getting thinner on Monday and today in Delhi
and other parts of India
no doubt, but the basic debate rages on. Young India has brought out everything
in the open demolishing the secrecy, the privacy and the taboos. They have left
no option for the nation but to feel shamed, shamed and shamed. Thanks to the efforts
of the kids, the whole of India
where Goddesses have been worshiped since times immemorial has now been
arguing, thinking, interacting and debating about safety for women and
prevention of atrocities against women.
The Young India
Movement has indeed been guiding the nation surely and steadily For Change. A Change
that our society needs desperately, and immediately.
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