Only they – the wretched
and the uncouth – commit rape and violent crimes. To some extent, the Nirbhaya
outrage underscored this stereotype.
Our media pundits and other
avid observers of India’s democracy-in-action have already termed the current
election season as the dirtiest ever. Perhaps, this is because crime has
upstaged other issues as far as media focus is concerned. There have been
innuendoes, allegations and outright charges comprising such sins and crimes as
murders, rapes, corruption, abduction, not to mention such lesser misdemeanors
as misrepresentation of facts, utter lies and stalking. None of these
misdemeanors, sins and crimes is stranger to the aam aadmi. What is new is the
intensity with which these charges are being exchanged on every available forum
– the social media the mainstream print and electronic news media and even public
meetings.
Strikingly, for the first
time, women from the PLU segment of the society are not just alleging rape but
are boldly naming names, indicating that the line between private sin and public
indecency does not exist anymore, thus exposing patriarchy’s putrid decadence.
Consequently, the self-assuring delusion that only people belonging to the
lower middle class and below socio-economic strata indulge in such heinous
crimes has been shattered. Indeed, the “stigma” attached to the so-called blue-collared
thugs was taken as a sort of un-erasable universal truth. Only they – the wretched
and the uncouth – commit rape and violent crimes. To some extent, the Nirbhaya
outrage underscored this stereotype. Yet, the genesis of “the other truth” was
ironically born when public demonstrations against the Nirbhaya criminals were
at their zenith. A female lawyer writes in her blog how, during those demonstrations,
she was molested by a Justice of Law, whose intern she was. As if to underscore
the fact that this was not an exceptional case, something equally, if not more,
outrageous incident happened in Goa involving an iconic editor of an iconic publication
and his intern. Add to these the reported orgies at the Governor’s residence in
Hyderabad, the sexploitation of the devotees by a father-son godmen duo and
sodomies and rapes by political biggies in states of MP and Rajasthan, and
countless instances wherein teachers and wardens have violated their girl-child
wards, and you are tempted to conclude that you don’t need iconoclasts to
destroy the society’s icons. They themselves have developed this irresistible urge to self-destruct. And, consequences be damned.
And there are consequences
indeed. Those of us who were brought up to worship our teachers – Guru Gobind
douu khadey kaakey lagoon paaye, balihaari Guru aapno jo Gobind deeyo bataaye –
to look upon the judiciary as paragon of incorruptibility and writers as upholders
of social value, among other things, feel terribly let down. Worse, if no
corrective action takes place there is every chance that the society will
plunge into chaos.
Can there be redemption? There
is a need for making an example of PLU criminals. No brushing of the stuff
under carpets and no obfuscations of any type should be allowed. Our media has
been doing a good job although it has its limitations, not all of which are insurmountable
though. Nevertheless, they are getting increasingly proactive in cleaning the Augean
stables. The fact that now there is less hesitation in tackling the criminals
among the rich and the powerful is indicative of its increasing
self-confidence.
As for the so-called
non-PLU, blue-collared crimes, we have seen how legislating laws is a
meaningless exercise as has been proved by the upsurge in crime post-Nirbhaya. Moral
suasion does not work; instruments of governance are either non-existent or are
blunt and rusted. There is a clear reluctance on the part of the various
government functionaries, including ministers, bureaucrats and police officials
to tackle crime with seriousness. It does not pay to be conscientious in our
country. Perhaps, it is time to make negligence a costly lapse. When
conventional penal steps do not work it is time to resort to the
unconventional. If a crime is committed in a particular area the SHO in-charge
of such area should be promptly taken to task. He should not be suspended
because such suspensions are mere eyewash. Hit his pocket. Fine him and attach
his salary until the criminal has been actually convicted and sentenced. Similarly,
if a police investigation is being delayed or the concerned Investigating Officer
is not doing his or her job properly similar system of fines, penalties and withholding
of salaries should be enforced. In case of gang rapes and mob violence the MLA
and MP of the concerned area should be held to account along with the police
and local politicians from opposition parties; this would ensure the pre-emption
of conspiracy angle and inculcate some seriousness vis-à-vis quotidian
governance. Generally, politicians’ henchmen indulge in such crimes. Deter them
with heavy pecuniary penalties. 90% of all fines and penalties thus collected
should be given to the victims and the balance should go to the state
exchequer. A system should be worked out, wherein the trial would be speedy and
the High Court becomes the last court of appeal. Only in the rarest of the rare
cases should the appellant be allowed to approach the Supreme Court.
Let grassroots governance be
strengthened with result-oriented action. But would it be?
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