It has been 5 years since the unfortunate Nirbhaya incident that shook the entire nation.
However if the recent vile comment by Karnataka’s ex-DGP HT Sangliana on Nirbhaya’s mother is anything to go by, instead of promoting women safety, India seems to be regressing in its approach.
His comment on the physical appearance of Nirbhaya’s mother reeked of objectification and earned him a lot of flak.
However, according to a report by Business Standard, the former DGP feels an issue has been made out of a ‘non-issue’.
“I’m sorry that my statements have been twisted. I meant that Nirbhaya’s (name by which the 2012 Delhi gang-rape victim is known) mother looks very smart and good in her physique. Her daughter, Nirbhaya, must have also been a beautiful girl. I think that beautiful people need protection so they don’t become victims in the future. I think people are making an issue out of a non-issue.”
Though the comment that Mr. Sangliana made in the first place was reprehensible in itself, his explanation is no better!
As per an NDTV report, Asha Devi, Nirbhaya’s mother and chief guest of the function where the Ex-DGP made this comment, responded to the comment saying:
The way he made comments on me, it shows the mentality of our society which hasn’t changed yet. He should have seen the struggle that we have gone through all these six years.
It is imperative that rather than commenting on someone’s looks, we look at their lives and rise above such petty objectification.
