Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JD)

Mangaluru, Feb 8: Noted social activist Kavita Krishnan, secretary of All India Progressive Women's Association (AIPWA), on Monday February 8 said that women's freedom was being snatched away in the name of safety and lashed out at the ABVP stating that anybody who does not agree with its ideology is branded as an 'anti-national'.

Delivering a talk on 'Freedoms and dissent in a democracy' organized by Citizens Forum for Mangalore Development in association with women's cell of St Aloysius College in the College premises, she said, "In the name of safety, women's freedom is being taken away. There was a circular by the Karnataka government to colleges to inform parents as to what time the college left and where are the girls were. Recently a circular has been issued by the UGC to install biometric devices and CCTV cameras all over the campus and even councillors are to be appointed to report to the colleges and parents as to what girls do.

"Today girls are in danger in their own homes and from people they trust. Most of the time, they are sexually assaulted either by a relative, a teacher or a spiritual advisor who are greatly trusted, and not strangers. And yet, we say that there is danger from strangers. A girl is in danger when she is less exposed to society and she does not know how to react when she is sexually assaulted," she added.

Referring to a government mill in Bengaluru, she said, "Most of the workers who work in the mill are Dalit women who, after work, have to go to hostels provided by the company and do not have the freedom to even use mobile phones to communicate with their male co-workers. A watch is kept on them 24x7 and if a woman is found conversing with a man, she is made to clean the place where people spit. When questioned, they give a diplomatic answer stating that it was for the safety of the women and in the interest of their families. But in reality, these companies are afraid that the workers might form unions and speak up against the violation of labour law and thus protest.

"Similar situation is found in Malaysia and China where women workers are kept a watch on. When asked, they answer very smartly saying we are treating women like our good daughters.

"In a patriarchal society fear was used by the rulers to discipline people and whoever raised their voice against the bad things done by the rulers was death sentence," she added.

Speaking on the suicide of Rohith Vemula, Dalit scholar of Hyderabad Central University, she lashed out at the ABVP and said, "Rohith Vemula case could have been handled in a normal manner if the student assaulted by Vemula's friends had not complained to his higher authorities in ABVP. Unfortunately, ABVP thinks that its 'big daddy' is in power at the centre and is thus spreading fear among the rest of the students. It is the ABVP which is branding many students who do not agree to what it says as 'anti-national'. Today if a Muslim is caught under suspicion he is immediately branded as a terrrorist, but if a Hindu is caught, then people raise voice against his arrest. It is ultimately the voice of the students that is suppressed by the ABVP."

"ABVP and other such outfits are indirectly spreading fear with an intention to make India a Hindu nation and the policy of single religion is being pushed forward," she claimed, adding, "They dictate what you have to wear, and if a woman does not wear as per their diktat, she is attacked.

"There is also a funny face to it. In one of the cases, one of the lecturers of Delhi University had to face ABVP opposition just because he had mentioned the name of Ganesha in his lecture. Ultimately the top leaders of ABVP convinced their workers that he is 'our man'. It depicts that they just want to oppose any ideology that is against theirs," she said.

"They are also using the tactic of bullying you as a solution if you do not agree to their ideology. This is termed as 'patriotism' by them. According to them, to be patriotic is to hate someone," she added.

"As a society we have to uphold the values of democracy. We have to fight against the system and many a time, we only think about our rights but not about the rights of the downtrodden, the women, and the marginalised in the society. A society needs to respect diversity if it has to be called a society," she opined.

Referring to Article 377, she said, "When there was a debate on giving equal rights to the third gender, leaders of all religions opposed it. They do the same when there is proposal to give equal rights to women. These are things which every citizen should raise voice against and fight for freedom of speech and the right to dissent. I hope the youth of today think of ways to safeguard their freedom and their right to express dissent."

To a question on whether 'democracy exists in India'. she said, "I feel democracy lies in the spirit of protest and raise voice against atrocities and accept the diverse opinions, as well as safeguard the rights of the downtrodden."

Mahesh Nayak delivered the keynote address.

Deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim, social activist Vidya Dinker who was convenor of the programme, Dr Rose Veera, HoD of political science department, St Aloysius College, Suresh Bhat Bakrabail and others were present.