CPI(M) Demands Apology

From Delhi Police Chief

THE CPI(M), Delhi state committee has strongly condemned the statement of the Delhi police commissioner that sexual harassment and crimes against women would decline if they are dressed properly. Saying that this amounts to nothing but vile justification of the rampant sexual harassment of women in Delhi, the CPI(M) has demanded immediate apology from the city's top policeman.

The police commissioner’s highly condemnable statement came in the background of an alarming increase in crimes against women. Several heinous cases of gang rape of women have been reported in the recent past, including those in Amar Colony and Delhi University. The latest being the abduction and gangrape of a dancer by car borne miscreants on the night of October 6 in South Delhi.

Besides such crimes, women in Delhi have to face sexual harassment on a daily basis in their work place, buses and public places. The central and state governments have done nothing to implement the guidelines of the Supreme Court regarding sexual harassment of women at their work place. Offenders in cases of sexual harassment are rarely punished. The legal procedure in such cases is very time consuming and exposes the victims to further harassment and insult.

In view of such situation, the CPI (M) has made the following demands:

§         Immediate apology from the police commissioner for his reprehensible remarks justifying sexual harassment against women.

§         Creation of appropriate machinery in government offices, as per Supreme Court guidelines, to deal with cases of sexual harassment at the workplace.

§         Increased police patrolling to provide greater security for women.

§         Timely and stringent action against all those responsible for crimes against and sexual harassment of women.

§         Strong action against policemen involved in cases of sexual harassment and in abetting it by not recording complaints or showing laxity in proceeding against the culprits.