Earlier this month, at an Award function to honour women, former DGP of Karnataka made a controversial statement on Delhi gang rape victim Nirbhaya and her mother.
Ex-DGP HT Sangliana said Nirbhaya’s mother Asha Devi has a ‘great physique’ and a mere look at her makes him imagine how beautiful her daughter would have been. He not only made these remarks but also gave a few “safety tips” to women.
"If you are overpowered, you should surrender, and follow up the case later. That way we can be safe, save life, prevent being killed," Sangaliana said as reported by India Today.
Asha Devi, who was invited to the function as a guest, has now written a strongly worded letter to the Ex-DGP, addressing his comments.
“When you commented on my physique, you didn’t even think twice if it was appropriate for you to talk like that. More so, you linked my beauty to my daughter Jyoti who is no longer alive.
But after making those abhorrent remarks, your advice to the young girls crossed all the limits. You said if someone overpowers a girl then the girl should not put up a fight but should surrender, because at least that way, she will be alive.
You didn’t just disrespect my daughter – who fought very hard in that moment – by saying all those things, but you displayed a patriarchal attitude of the society at large. My daughter’s rapists expressed a similar thought, that they couldn’t tolerate that she was fighting back for her life.
Not only did you disrespect the fight that my daughter put up in those moments, you also displayed the sick, patriarchal attitude of our society at large. My daughter’s rapists too had expressed a similar thought – how they could not tolerate the fact that she was fighting back.
It is very shameful that the so called custodians of the society and the criminals have the same thinking.
You are reiterating the same regressive attitude that we have been living with all our lives. We have been telling our girls and daughters to compromise with the situation and remain weak. And when someone tries to overpower you, you must succumb to the pressure because they will spare you your life.
I only have one question for you: will you give the same advice to our soldiers? They protect us day and night. Will you tell them to give up their arms and not put up a fight when someone attacks them? That way, at least their lives will also be spared.”
The award function was organised to honour the commendable work of some women, including Asha Devi. But these remarks made by the Ex-DGP left the attendees feeling speechless, reported India Today.
(With inputs from Khabar Lahariya, India Today and Scroll.)
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