Protests are a necessary public catharsis. Citizen movements over the tragic rape and murder of the trainee doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9, continue. Amid the public anguish, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was heard playing cynical politics. Modi declared that his government has done more to prevent crimes than other governments.
President Droupadi Murmu declared “enough is enough”. Despite these VIP lamentations, the fact remains that 30 per cent of Nirbhaya Funds allocated to prevent sexual assault remain unutilised; the Mahila Police Volunteer Scheme for women’s safety has been discontinued and in 2021, it was revealed that 70 per cent funds for Modi’s “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” scheme had been spent on advertising. The ruling BJP plays cunning politics over rape but has little inclination to fix the institutional gaps on safety for women.
