Slutwalkers prove their point better in no show

Blessing in disguise

By stifling the voice of a handful of people, mostly women, the police in their highhandedness proved the point that the protesters were trying to make anyway.

Provoke, they certainly have, as the use of the word ‘slut’ and the spectre of women possibly turning up in skimpy attires to protest seems to have jagged a nerve. However, the furore seemed much ado about nothing as the protesters were wearing the quintessentially urban ‘kurtis’ with jeans.

That it was cancelled by police, ‘concerned’ about the backlash that the walk might evoke, speaks volumes about a society that does not hesitate to shut its eyes and look the other way, when a crime against woman takes place. But the same society turns blue in the face when women decide to protest against being blamed for the crimes against them.

Reacting to a statement made by BJP Mahila Morcha president Mamata, about women wearing skimpy clothing being more provocative, Vimala K S, the General Secretary of AIDWA, questions: “Aren’t there women clad in the so-called decent sarees raped? It’s the attitude that men have about women that makes a difference more than what attire the woman is in.”

Police officials point out that even women’s organisations were against the walk, which made them eventually cancel the permission given to stage the Slutwalk.
The president of the BJP Mahila Morcha, one of the women who was vociferous against the protest, took a rather confused view on Monday. “I am not saying that saree is not a provocative attire. But that does not mean that women can turn up in two-piece attire,” Mamata said.

In a cutting reply, Donna Fernandes of Vimochana, said: “It is indeed sad that police could not give protection to the ones who were protesting legally. By giving into the demands of certain groups, the police have succumbed. It is probably because the Mahila Morcha women travel in cars that they are unaware of the reality.”

Vimala added: “Protest was not one of the best ways to address the issue. This will lead them nowhere and this is more of romanticising the problem.”

This was refuted by Aqseer, one of the protesters, who said: “We intended to march with an intention to provoke people only to raise concern about the issue. We are also planning to have an outreach programme, which is more effective.”