Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath's much talked about 'Anti-Romeo Squad' seems to have turned into a 'Shakespearean tragedy' and is set to be rechristened very soon.
Apparently bowing to all the flak following the alleged humiliation of couples and lovers by the squad, the UP government was contemplating to change its name to 'Nari Suraksha Dal' (women protection squad).
According to the sources, the state government was also considering to give more powers to the Dal and include more women in the squad. ''A proposal to change the name of the squad is under consideration...it is likely to be finalised shortly,'' said a senior police official here on Saturday. He also said that the new squad would work under a woman officer.
The decision to rechristen the 'Anti-Romeo Squad' comes in the wake of severe criticism from the women's rights activists across the country, who had termed it ''unconstitutional'' and ''illegal'' and demanded its immediate dismantling.
''Surely it is not the way to protect and make the women feel safe.....these squads are attacking the women's ability to take decisions and progressive thinking'', said women's rights activist Madhvi Kuckreja.
''What is disconcerting is that these squads decide what is moral...they are picking up Romeos on the basis of doubts'', Madhvi added.
The opposition parties had also criticised the government over the squad. Some activists had also objected to the name 'anti-Romeo' saying that in the Shakespeare's play 'Romeo and Juliet', Romeo had been depicted as an ideal lover and not someone, who passed lewd comments on the girls.
Setting up such a squad was one of the poll agenda of the BJP. The party had maintained that it had been performing its duty in a just and fair manner. But there have been reports of the humiliation of lovers and young couples by the squad.
Deccan Herald is on WhatsApp Channels| Join now for Breaking News & Editor's Picks