आदरणीय राष्ट्रपति महोदया, सिर्फ कोलकाता ही नहीं आपको महाराष्ट्र, राजस्थान, बिहार, यूपी और एमपी समेत देश भर में महिलाओं के प्रति बढ़ते अपराधों के लिए सरकारों को नसीहत देने की ज़रूरत है। आपको मणिपुर और महिला पहलवानों के यौन शोषण की घटनाओं और उन्हें इंसाफ दिलाने के लिए आगे आने की ज़रूरत है। आपको दलगत राजनीति से ऊपर उठकर देखने की ज़रूरत है। विपक्ष की ही नहीं सत्तारूढ़ बीजेपी और उसकी डबल इंजन की सरकारों की भी जिम्मेदारी तय करने का साहस दिखाईए।

New Delhi, August 28

In her first public statement on the rape and murder of a doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital, President Droupadi Murmu expressed strong condemnation of the incident and said she was outraged.

“The gruesome incident of rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata has left the nation shocked. I was dismayed and horrified when I heard of it. What is more depressing is the fact that it was not the only incident of its kind; it is part of a series of crimes against women. Even as students, doctors and citizens were protesting in Kolkata, criminals remained on the prowl elsewhere. The nation is bound to be outraged, and so am I,” the President said in an exclusive signed article for PTI. She flagged the objectification of women and stated that countering the mindset is a task for both the State and society.

“Women have had to fight for every inch of ground they have won. Social prejudices as well as some customs and practices have always opposed the expansion of women’s rights. This is a rather deplorable mindset. I won’t call it a male mindset, because it has little to do with the gender of the person: there are many, many men who don’t have it. This mindset sees the female as a lesser human being, less powerful, less capable and less intelligent. Those who share such views then go further and see the female as an object. It is this objectification of women by a few that is behind crimes against women,” she said.

She said in the aftermath of the gang rape of Nirbhaya in 2012, strategies were devised to not let another such incident take place but the task would remain unfulfilled as long as women feel unsafe at her workplace. The President said since Nirbhaya’s rape and murder, there have been several tragedies of similar nature though only a few got attention and forgotten.

“This collective amnesia, I am afraid, is as obnoxious as that mindset I spoke of. I am of the firm belief that we should not let amnesia prevail over the memory of such criminality. Let us collectively say enough is enough,” she added.