Male cops beat women in India
February 18th 2010 02:31
On February 16 2010 democratic norms died a thousand deaths in Uttar Pradesh, a ten thousand strong rally of Mahila Congress and Congress women leaders assembled at the Shaheed Smarak here today led by UPCC chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi and President of the Mahila Congress Pratibha Thakur and President of the State Unit of the Mahila Congress Meera Singh. The women leaders were protesting against the rising crime against women in the state under the BSP rule. However, when they tried to proceed towards the Vidhan Sabha, a sign of what lay in store for them was seen. Police excesses began early this day. For the first time in the history of Uttar Pradesh water cannons were used against women demonstrators. To intercept them the policemen on duty turned on the water hose and arrested them and sent them to the police lines. However undeterred and to keep up their protest they still managed to reach the Vidhan Sabha defying police barricades and violating section 144, to proceed to meet CM Mayawati.
When Rita Joshi reached the Vidhan Bhawan the first to arrive by her side was Member of Parliament Jagdambika Pal, then came several others including CLP leader Promod Tiwari and several MLAs and MLCs including Lucknow MLA Shyam Kishore Shukla. But to cap it all democracy in Uttar Pradesh hung its head in shame when Mayawati a woman CM, who should be concerned about rising crime against women refused to even meet a delegation of 11 senior Congress women leaders including former ministers and MPs.
It was a tragic day for democracy in Uttar Pradesh as all democratic norms were thrown to the winds and arrogant male police officials in a blatant show of misuse of power and rained blows and kicks and lathis on senior women leaders and Congress workers including MPs and former ministers in a bid to disperse them.
The administration had deployed male policemen even though they knew the protesters would be women. There were only four or five women constables present at the spot. The policemen behaved in an indecent manner with the Congress women workers and tore off their clothes and used expletives.
Even this failed to stem the Congress tide and the policemen then went berserk. While the women were pushed to the ground and lathi-charged the male protesters including AICC Secretary Parvez Hasmi became targets of concerted and vicious attack. Policemen not content to use the baton, even resorted to dealing blows and kicks on the hapless victims. In some cases the batons broke with the force of the blows.
Despite this Rita Bahuguna Joshi, who received a lathi blow on her head, and other Congress leaders managed to reach the Vidhan Sabha and courted arrest twice in one day.
It was a tragic day for democracy in Uttar Pradesh as all democratic norms were thrown to the winds and arrogant male police officials in a blatant show of misuse of power and rained blows and kicks and lathis on senior women leaders and Congress workers including MPs and former ministers in a bid to disperse them.
Even this failed to stem the Congress tide and the policemen then went berserk. While the women were pushed to the ground and lathi-charged the male protesters including AICC Secretary Parvez Hasmi became targets of concerted and vicious attack. Policemen not content to use the baton, even resorted to dealing blows and kicks on the hapless victims. In some cases the batons broke with the force of the blows.
Despite this Rita Bahuguna Joshi, who received a lathi blow on her head, and other Congress leaders managed to reach the Vidhan Sabha and courted arrest twice in one day.
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