Hathras ‘rape’ case isn’t the first. But, in a long while, the outrage is. Dalit women, their identity and self-respect have been shredded since time immemorial. Even now, Dalit women are raped and hanged from trees by upper-caste men. This, even when we have a Prime Minister who is an OBC.
It is obvious that India wants Prime Minister Narendra Modi to talk about Hathras — a case where the ruthlessness of the Yogi Adityanath administration and the gruesome nature of the incident has moved even the rigid upper-caste conscience. But Prime Minister Modi’s signature silence over social issues is still going strong, unless of course the topic is Kashmir, dead and alive Gandhis, Jawaharlal Nehru and Modi’s Muslim sisters who must be liberated from triple talaq.
Last week, while addressing the Invest India Conference in Canada, PM Modi proudly called India a vibrant democracy with political stability, investment and business-friendly policies and a skilled talent pool. In a pitch to bring more foreign investors to India and to boost the GDP that’s contracted -23.9 per cent, Modi is trying to sell a shiny New India that is all hunky-dory with new farm laws, labour laws and relaxed corporate laws. But the fraying social fabric of India is under where Modi has swept and hidden the ugly truths of the nation. And the world is very much aware of it, given the international coverage of the Uttar Pradesh ‘rape’ case and the Time Magazine editorial on the PM himself. Hathras has become a mirror to Modi.
Also read: Some want to call Hathras an ‘honour killing case’ — they forgot it’s an upper-caste practice
Whose PM?
No nation’s economy can be seen in isolation — the ‘country risk’ is evaluated by its sociopolitical conditions too. In an article published in the European Journal of Political Economy, researchers Matthias Busse and Carsten Hefeker found that ‘internal conflict, ethnic tensions, law and order, corruption, democratic accountability of government, and quality of bureaucracy’ are highly significant determinants of FDI flows.
Prime Minister Modi obviously seems oblivious to this fact. While the nation was outraged by Hathras, Prime Minister Modi chose to not speak a word, either to assure the Indian women of their safety or to condemn the barbarity of the act. We don’t expect Yogi Adityanath to reassure women, but we expect the PM to.
The fact that this incident and the subsequent investigation are shrouded by caste supremacy — upper caste Thakur men allegedly raping a Dalit woman — has also led to doubts about how much the government actually cares about the social development of Dalits and OBCs, the vote bank that the BJP has wooed. The Hathras case isn’t a one-off incident.
And then to call yourself a great nation in front of foreign investors seems nothing more than patting yourself on the back, and failing to look in the mirror. If PM Modi fails to recognise that the BJP’s Hindutva agenda has once again dangerously re-ignited the pride of the savarnas, especially in a state like Uttar Pradesh whose chief minister is a saffron-clad Thakur, the metaphorical ticking caste bomb will blow up on the party’s face. The Dalit anger is already palpable with leaders like Chandrashekhar Azad opting for a Bose-like roar for justice rather than a Gandhi-like passive whimper.
Also read: Don’t know how to take a U-turn? Learn from TV channels on Rhea Chakraborty and Hathras cases
Equality with an asterisk
With crores of rupees being spent on an Air Force One-type planes for the Prime Minister, Delhi’s Central Vista and statues, one wonders how hard it is for a government that seems so well equipped, both financially and politically, to bring about better and more sensitive rape laws, better policing laws, and work on the upliftment of Dalits. In fact, if the BJP can bulldoze through both houses of Parliament to remove Article 370 and the recent farm laws, why not better laws for Dalits and women?
Obviously, the answer is more complicated. In India, the idea of equality itself comes with a disclaimer. You can call yourself an equal only if you are certified by self-proclaimed nationalist, patriotic agencies — usually, yelling anchors and BJP ministers. Tone-deaf news channels have not shied away from sensationalising claims of the Hathras accused who said the victim was killed by her own family because they were ‘friends’. The character assassination of a dead woman is allowed. Her forceful cremation by upper-caste policemen, who now claim that there was no ‘rape’, is allowed. Barricading and threatening the victim’s family in a largely Thakur village is allowed. All of it was allowed only because she was a Dalit.
Equality in India, at best, is a myth, and the Hathras case is proof. PM Modi may be a marketing maverick but the human conscience is a powerful factor too. The world is watching.
The author is a political observer and writer. Views are personal.
It’s clear that columnist unable to control her venom againist PM and used Hathras issue to vomit at once all the venom stocked inside.
No. of registered rape cases in the USA is about 98213 in 2019 and India is about 32033 but some writers are defaming the country.
Women’s dignity is battererd but this is still a local issue not an issue to be blown out of proportion
NO scams, other than RaGa & Co. screaming no bribes in defense deals. With these SPACIALITIES of congress and other earlier administrations missing something needs to be invented.
Rapes as bad as they are, the projection sought to be made is that the country is so unsafe that anyone could enter any household and freely rape women folk. This will drive away all the investors. Then as and when it suits it is given the cast or religious color.
Anyone who has traveled the world will have noticed and realized that this is the only country which has no Doller hunger, other than people who have some contact with the foreigners the rest of the population has no fascination for the Doller.
Also this is one of the few countries where there are no go zones in cities for Police or an average uninvolved person.
“We don’t expect Yogi Adityanath to reassure women, but we expect the PM to.”
Why??
What idiocy compels you to think that way? Also, there are thousands of crimes and deaths everyday – should the PM condemn them all?? Or only the ones activists like you take a fancy to or what is popular and fashionable in the media??
Law and Order is NOT the job of the PM – never has been. Such acts, like all acts before them are a result of the failure of Police to Act properly. These require local solutions and CMs are the ones who are responsible.
Further, despite these obvious issues, PM Modi has already issued his strong rebuke to the Yogi Govt.
Your ignorant and arrogance to selective outrage and asinine prescriptions for what ought to be done reflect a hysterical departure from reality. Crime and tragedy strike everywhere. Only in India is there a dedicated lobby of doomsday fetishists who like to publicly selfflagellate themselves in public spectacle of woe and self-pity.
Macron of France is leading the way and passing law in December to reign in Islam , just what RSS has been warning Indians of since long … This Journalist needs to first be an activist cleaning up her religion of piece who love converting Yazidi women and Kaffir Hindu girls .. lol.. They all think they can hide away the ugly truth of their ugly blood thirsty religion by financing Bollywood, media and sickular parties
For some reasons the rape news have been quite widely reported since 2014, not that I am against it but is there a reason why it has become more prominent since 2014? Politicization of such crimes is shameful, the author of this article should take notice of their sad mentality.
Rape is henious, and must be dealt with, strictly and swiftly. But that doesn’t mean that a head of a country will go about addressing it at all forums in india and abroad.
When you projects one’s country, we generally talk of only good things.
As it is , Miss Sikandars article are generally low on substance, and high on rhetoric.
She is a surprise pick, amongst print’s esteemed list’ o journalist.
At times her articles appear completely biased. Being objective and neutral isn’t one of her forte.
This article touched on the surface only but fell short in analyzing the root cause of the social attitudes towards women in India and what shaped them ?
One thing that comes to my mind is: Religion! Now draw on a board all the points as to where and how religion shaped the values & attitudes of men towards women in India. Both Hinduism and Islam are archaic backward religions with backward ideas towards society, & how women in society ought to conduct themselves.
Both religions of Islam and Hinduism has a masochist attitude towards women and how women are half brained or lustful creatures who desire to be raped and ravished. Islam even condones the rape of infidel non-Muslim women as Halal!? Hinduism as well perpetuates the lustful beliefs of their male demi-gods towards women. Some of the gods are convicted rapists themselves (proven by Hindu scriptures). Plus the caste system which only sees division and inequality among the masses.
The more Hindutva India aspires to be, the more backward it shall go. May God have mercy on the children and women of India!
I am not sure what the point of the Article was. Should the PM be commenting and taking ownership of every incident that happens?
ZAINAB SIKANDER is the most stupid columnist of ThePrint. She should leave India and live in Pakistan.
Zainab can not be pleased, what ever Modi does.
Rape is a socio-economic phenomenon and has little to do with Modi.
Though Modi chipped in with his advise to Indian parents to leash their sons as well, as they do for their daughters.
Now, law is taking its course in Hathras and to blame Modi for this incident is lie peddling.
Surprised Print allows such idiotic writing!!!! What is her expectation from the PM?
Disclaimer: I empahise with those who suffer because of crimes and also in the wake of its potential possibilities.
Crime of any kind are horrible and the authorities at every stage should have systems in place to prevent them. Yet, we must realise crimes of all hues are committed the world over. They have been since millannea and they will continue to be committed in the future. This should not be an excuse for inaction and delivery of justice.
But to suggest that a Nation should go out into world peddling its crime rate to invite investments to boost the economy is in the least, stupid. What exactly does the writer want done in this regard?
Tailpiece: Uniform civil code will help differentiate the society based solely on economy, to facilitate more equity in distribution of wealth, It is time for India to end differentiation and officious discrimination based on caste and religion. Improved living conditions (Roti, kapda, makkan) will automatically reduce crimes – even the Hathra’s type.
A news headline
“What if it was A Rich girl”; High court questions Hathras cremation
In support of my main comment
dumb, ill-informed and motivated article
Author is right here. Conditions prevailing in country would not result into socio-economic development. We may be blind but the world around us is not. We are spending and living upon The old good will of this country which will soon get over. Our intuitions have been damaged, and izzat earn by them are being lost day by day. Soon, government around the world will take decisions against our institutions and not respond to our valid legal requests. Investment scenario was already in decline and will continue to decline and this is not a joke but a reality. Most of the people here are saying why writer is writing such stuff which have no value blah blah… Let me give you an answer. It is not for the world or current ruling party to know but it is for the people of this country. You must not say tomorrow when the system fails that nobody told you that this was happening and hence you cannot be put accountable for same. Thus such kind of articles and truth are very important for people to know that our future is our own making and you knew about it and decided to ignore these issues.
Please keep doing this. the more you write more people know your reality. shame on pRINT THAT’S WHY THE EDITOR NEED TO BEG EVERYTIME FOR SUPPORT
It seems that under the balanced analysis of Shekhar Gupta, rest of The Print Team writes all illogical things and expects people to treat this as an unbiased journalism.
SG please stop these librandus to be part of your team.
This is done with a purpose. SG wants to save his reputation as well as continue anti-Modi propaganda.
It’s good that Zainab is around to tell us that “the world is watching” – we were unaware of that!
Articles like this & authors like Zainab ensure that The Print is viewed as arrogant, disconnected, divisive & sold out
What a biased nonsense? Where does The Print pick these commentators from, the gutters? Ignorant and completed devoid of any sense! ” a political observer ” Hah!
This article should be read as anti-national. The journalist fails to do due diligence of crime data historically and reads it selectively during Modi regime. Since, data is available it means it cannot be hidden.
Author does not want to read the data of open defacation, banking to poor, electricity connected villages, gas connections etc. during pre-modi regime and post modi regime. This is reality which this author wants sweep under the carpet.
Crimes cannot be linked to political dispensation while investigation and conviction can be.
Readers should be wary of such jornalists because this article shall be picked by some international media to paint situation in India – which is anti-national in the first place
Lot of comments here telling that the author is critizing Modi for not speaking about rapes in India at foreign to communities.
Can some of these ‘pseudo nationalists’ point out where she has said that?
Can these ‘pseudo nationalists’ also point out where Modi has spoken about the Hathras crime to Indians in India? Where is hathras in Mann ki Baat? It has become MAUN ki baat!
Will Modi ask for votes in the name of Hathras like he did in Nirbhaya case?
No such problem….Achhe Din aa gaye….. Sab changa si
“Modi sells India Dream to world but sweeps ugly truth of rapes under the carpet”
Misleading heading? Problem of language?
The heading is more misleading than all other references….
By all means bring out the deficiencies of a Democratically elected Government…that right is always ours… BUT…….
1. Why would Infosys talk about rape, and no citizen in India voted for Infosys. Dumbest example
2. the PM of India will not go talking about rape to the international community. But what about India, in modi’s ‘MAUN Ki Baat’ he talked about “oxygen and water production from windmills”, not a word on hathras
2. Yes this also happens in other countries and happened in previous UPA.
But the other govts filed FIRs, supported victims treatment, supported victims family and did not burn the victim’s body forcibly and did not ask for votes in the name of a rape victim. Modi shamelessly asked for votes in the name of Nirbhaya.
3. BJP is in govt for almost 6.5 yrs in centre, bjp in UP, tell me maharaj whom should we question?
Think! Think!
Looks like the author is very Biased in his opinion and thought. Do you want our PM to go to other countries and say that we are the rape capital !!.
Shekar Gupta ji please use your editors scissors for such thoughtless articles.
Ms Sikandar, so your suggestion is that the PM should, instead of talking about the positives of the country to investors, focus on crimes, inequalities and such.
Bravo! 10/10 for being the smartest person in the room. Let’s also demand that Trump should highlight racial inequality in the US, Macron speak about ghettos in Paris, Boris about widespread inequality between south and north England and such.
No, that won’t happen for two reasons 1 – these countries are powerful because they don’t have people like you who eat it from within 2 – They are far smarter than focusing on the negatives rather than bank on the positives
As horrible as it is, rape is a social evil that needs to be end. However, your article is dumb! These heinous crimes happen in all countries irrespective of how developed it is. Which head of states go about talking of the bad things about their country. When you say ‘Sell’ it means to talk about the good things. So when Infosys goes and sells a software they should first talk about all social evils that India has and then talk about the software? Besides are happening only during Modi Govt.? Think Think!!
Agree.
As someone who stays in Mumbai, a crime(as horrendous as it may have been) committed in UP, has limited impact on my day to day functioning.
Does the author propose, that while dealing with my international business partners, I am supposed to acknowledge crimes in a lawless part of the country, be apologetic for it and then conduct business?
Sometimes, while criticizing the ruling dispensation, people end up putting the whole country at a disadvantage. This thought process is holding us back more than anything else.
Ugly truth of
BALRAMPUR
Priest burned in RAJASTHAN
A DELHI BOY KILLED BECAUSE HE FELL IN LOVE WITH.
DANGEROUS PFI MEMBERS ARRESTED WHILE TRYING TO ENTER HATHRAS.
STRICT ACTION AGAINST ALL THE ABOVE IS THE NEED OF TIMES WE LIVE OTHERWISE WARS AROUND THE WORLD BY JIHADIST IS WHAT WE WILL GET.
Jihadists posing as journalist must be ignored.
This stupid whataboutery wouldn’t help the paid agents like you. Whatever happened elsewhere doesn’t nullify the brutality that happened in
Muslim stay out of hindu matters. Have some decency and go to Pakistan . Muslims are trouble makers and want to divide hindus.
Shocking comment. Don’t know how the moderators let this pass through their filters
What is Hindu matters? Are Hindus not humans? It is a matter of being human (pun not intended). Having said that – the Hathras case has thrown up questions – did the heinous crime happen? Or was it murder by the family of the lady in who has died? The author’s tirade against Modi is very obvious and I would not hazard a guess, why. How has Modi swept this issue under the carpet – it is not clear. Better laws will not help rape issues. Only better parenting, better education and taking out religious & social bias out from the equation will reduce rapes. Would have loved the piece if Ms. Zainab had mentioned the biases inherent in the society due to belief systems mentioned above sometimes equated with “natural laws”.
To all bhakts whom should we question if not CM or PM of a nation if such heinious crimes happen in USA media will roast president trump everyday because tha’ts their job does that make them anti national no because that’s what the beauty of democracy even bush was viciously trolled during iraq war…..if we choose to stay mum and not ask questions soon we will forget to ask any questions at all………..so once for all stop whatboutery or finding the religion of author and start concerning about things that do matter .
speaking about nations reputyation its already down by the sheer barbarity of the act now staying mum or living in denial wont make it better