Playing 'politics' with the issue of a rape; Saluting the braveheart
- Sangai Express Editorial :: December 23, 2013 -

Dangerous and crafty politics.

Something very different from the conventional understanding of the politics played by professional politicians.

We are talking about the politics played by Non-Governmental Organisations, a politics where the thumb rule seems to be, if any of its prominent members come under accusation as despicable as sexual harassment or rape, they should join ranks and extend whatever support they can with or without substance to the accused.

The one prominent factor for such a culture or trend is probably the question of funding, which may run into crores of rupees.

This is the reason why prominent NGOs spread across the country, including Manipur, appear to have thrown their weight behind the late Khurshid Anwar, the executive director of the Institute of Social Democracy at the time of his death.

A double victim, this is what some of these NGOs are trying reduce the woman to, who had the gumption to raise the rape charge.

Whether her accusation is true or not is something which only the Court will decide, but already it is becoming gradually clear that carefully drafted and scripted attempts are being made to change her status from being a 'victim of rape' to one who had a 'hand in abetting the suicide' of the late Anwar.

This is what the public should keep in mind.

Another important point, correction, very, very important is the possibility of some of the NGOs based in Manipur, having a link with Institute of Social Democracy and it is their response to the unfolding scenario, post the suicide as well as the rape charge, that should be studied under the microscope.

Rape and sexual harassment is a sensitive issue and the media has to always walk the tight rope while reporting on such issues.

Would bringing the rape story, obviously without revealing anything about the alleged victim, to the public domain, demoralise her or would it give her more courage and determination to take the fight to its logical end, is a question, which the fourth estate has to always keep in mind.

In reporting this particular alleged rape story, The Sangai Express has kept this in mind.

The alleged rape victim is a brave girl, with enough spunk to lodge a complaint against a powerful man like the late Khurshid Anwar.

It would take conviction and determination to give her statement on camera for 90 minutes.

A girl, who was at the forefront to demand justice in the rape and murder case of Nirbhaya, a girl who volunteered and contributed her mite during the devastating flood at Uttarakhand some time back cannot be weak in any sense of the term.

Something no weak individual would be able to do, especially in a society, caught in the patriarchal mindset, so much so, that more often than not, 'rape victims' are dubbed as 'she was inviting it.

'It is this courage that should be saluted and acknowledged.

Khurshid Anwar is no longer alive to defend himself and while it would be wrong to jump to conclusions and condemn a man who is no longer in a position to have his say on the matter, it is also equally true that the woman, an alleged rape survivor, should be given the opportunity to have her say, without any discrimination.

This where the possibility of the kind of politics played by some NGOs should be scrutinised minutely.

The Tarun Tejpal case, where the media did not join ranks behind him should be a lesson for everyone to learn.

Support from society and in particular the family is critical at this juncture.

Let justice prevail, should be the stand of every right thinking citizens.