Bengaluru mass molestation: Misogynistic political remarks trigger outrage

Activists, women groups and rights bodies dubbed the reactions of politicians to the incidents as misogynistic and demanded immediate action against the perpetrators of the crime.

Karnataka  Home Minister G Parameshwara said western culture is to blame and that "these things do happen".

Senior Samajwadi Party leader  Abu Azmi said influence of western culture should be curbed to avoid future occurance of such incidents and he indicated that women should not dress "provocatively" or go out with "other men".

On how women can prevent such incidents, Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi told media: "We are told old fashioned when we raise these. Today being more skimpily dressed is called modern. There is an influence of western culture and it should be curbed. I think ants are drawn to sugar. We should not give them a chance."

The remarks have caused anger with National Commission for Women chief Lalitha Kumaramangalam demanding the Karnataka Minister's resignation.

Kumaramangalam said the Karnataka Home Minister should resign for his remarks.

She said politicians across partyline made such comments and questioned where the country is heading if people at such positions make such comments.

Entrepreneur Kiran Mazumdar Shaw said Indian society does not want to give equal status to women.

She said the police should look at the CCTV footage and act to nab the people who committed the crime.

"It is an aberration. There is a deep rooted misogyny in our society and we do not want to give women equal status. As a proud Bangalorean I feel ashamed. Police have to look at CCTV footage and act," she said.

Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju also condemned the Karnataka Minister for his remark over the incident.

"I condemn d irresponsible comment made by Karnataka Home Minister. City Police should catch all the identified culprits & put behind the bar," Rijiju's tweet read.

Rijiju had earlier said that the whole society must ponder over the collective failure and degrading mindset of the youth.

"I condemn the shameful harassment of women. It's not just an incident or law & order issue. Whole society has to ponder on degrading mindset," he had tweeted earlier.

New year's eve turned out to be nightmare for Bengaluru women after several of them were allegedly molested and heckled on the famous MG Road in the city, media reports said.

The shameful incident was revealed after a photojournalist from the newspaper Bangalore Mirror alleged that he had seen several distraught women approached police women and complaint of molestation.

According to reports, hooligans had molested them and made lewd remarks during the New Year's celebrations on Dec 31.

 
Image: Bangalore Mirror Internet Grab