Time for action

Time for action

* The remarks made by Congress MP Abhijit Mukherjee about "dented and painted" women and scientist Anita Shukla's statement that the girl in Delhi should have submitted to her rapists are indicative of a blame-the-victim attitude ('Abhjit Mukherjee says Delhi gangrape protesters "dented-painted" women, President asks him to apologise', IE, December 28). The wrath of the people is justified, and water cannons and tear gas are not the solution. There have been numerous similar instances of rape in past, but they did not attract as much public outrage as this one. The government has no choice but to respond.

— Kshitij Gupta

Narwana

Men, speak up

* TO WHAT extent are men who encourage lewd jokes and sexist jibes responsible for the mistreatment of women? If men do not speak out in favour of women's rights, does that make them culpable in crimes against women ('All atwitter', IE, January 4)? For several days since the Delhi gangrape, a phrase that has been used repeatedly is "change the mindset". This change must begin with men as well as women. Men must recognise women as their equals and protest when they are spoken about in a derogatory manner.

— J.S. Acharya

Hyderabad

Visa norms

* THIS refers to 'Javed Miandad granted visa, to watch final Indo-Pak ODI in Delhi' (IE, January 2). The government has granted a visa to a person who is closely connected to the notorious Dawood Ibrahim. Miandad has previously been denied a visa to India, but on this occasion, he has been granted one along with other cricketers, coaches and PCB officials. Perhaps the government should not have granted such a controversial figure a visa.

— S.A. Madhan Pune

No mercy

* THIS refers to 'Now, former President of India Pratibha Patil under rape cloud for going soft on seven rapists-cum-killers, even of children' (IE, January 2). Pratibha Patil has been criticised for accepting mercy petitions in 35 cases, including rape and murder, during her tenure as president. Either the system of mercy petitions should be abolished altogether, or stricter rules should be framed so that mercy is granted only in the most exceptional cases and with the consent of the victims or their family members. Mercy petitions should be decided within three months, without long delays. Previous court cases regarding rape should be probed because in many cases, like that of the Noida gangrape, the accused have been let off on bail. Such a probe would expose the injustice of previous cases, and set a precedent that in future, those found guilty of rape cannot expect to escape punishment on bail.

... contd.

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