NEW DELHI/BENGALURU : The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Tuesday issued summonses to Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara and Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi over their objectionable remarks on the alleged incident of mass molestation of women in Bengaluru on New Year’s eve.
“We have sent summons to both of them for their statements,” NCW chairperson Lalitha Kumaramangalam said. “It does not matter whether Abu Azmi belongs to one party or another. To be brutally frank, there are men across parties who make these disgusting statements. If men at this level say such things, where is the nation heading?” she said.
“I don’t say all men are like that in the country, but a good 25 per cent of this country seems to be full of patriarchal men who have no respect for women,” she added.
Taking strong exception to Parameshwara’s remark that youngsters’ “western ways” was reason behind the incident of mass molestation in Bengaluru, Kumaramangalam on Monday demanded that he apologise and resign from his post.
Taking suo motu cognisance of the incident, Kumaramangalam had written to the DG&IGP, city police commissioner and the Home Minister seeking a reply on what action has been taken against those involved in the incidents.
Samajwadi Party’s Maharashtra unit chief Abu Azmi on Tuesday said though it was the duty of the police to ensure the safety of women on New Year’s eve, women should not forget that “security starts at home”.
“Partying late night in half attire, blindly following western culture, has never been our culture. When a few women in half dress come out on streets late in the night with their friends, such incidents do occur,” Azmi, an MLA from Shivajinagar in Mumbai, said.
The alleged incidents of molestation occurred on Saturday night in and around the junction of Brigade Road and MG Road where thousands had gathered for the New Year.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that women were molested and groped and lewd remarks were passed by miscreants on December 31 even as it was claimed that 1,500 police personnel had been deployed in the area.