AIPWA Protests AP DGP's Statements Defending Rape


AIPWA issued a statement strongly condemning the obnoxious and
objectionable anti-women statement issued by the Andhra Pradesh DGP
Dinesh Reddy in a press conference recently, and demanded that Dinesh
Reddy be dismissed from his post.
The DGP blamed the rise in rape cases on women wearing 'fashionable'
dress. He said the police could do nothing to deter rapists, as long
as women 'provoked' men by wearing 'fashionable' clothing. Even rural
women, he said, provoked men by wearing 'salwar kameez' instead of
'traditional' clothes. He also said that when men ate food that
created 'josh' (excitement), it made them act in 'naughty' ways, which
the police was helpless to stop.
AIPWA held that these sentiments are a direct defence of and
encouragement to rapists. The DGP is blaming victims for the crime of
rape, and seeking to police their choice of clothing. Further, by
defining rape as 'naughtiness' caused by 'excitement' or sexual
response to 'provocative clothes,' the DGP is refusing to recognize
rape as a heinous act of violence on women. Indeed, the DGP's words
are reflecting the same mindset as those of rapists themselves. His
words betray that he himself views women with the gaze of the rapist.
When the police top brass justify the crime of rape, and in fact speak
like rapists, then how can women feel safe? In the past, too, top cops
like KPS Gill have indulged in similar statements. AIPWA demanded that
police officers who indulge in 'victim-blaming' in cases of sexual
violence on women, must not be allowed to remain in their post.
AIPWA units in Andhra Pradesh held protests and submitted memorandums
at several places in AP demanding dismissal of Dinesh Reddy from his
post as DGP with immediate effect. AIPWA's 6th National Conference is
to be held in Vijaywada in AP on 8-9 February. One of the central
issues in the National Conference will be the rise in sexual violence
on women, and the role of police and elected representatives in
encouraging and protecting such crimes.

[ ML Update A CPI(ML) Weekly News Magazine
Vol.  15    No. 01    27 DEC 2011 - 02 JAN 2012]

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