Rahul’s candlelight vigil- protest against rape or gropefest?

The candle light vigil called by Rahul Gandhi was ill-conceived and poorly executed. With the sole intention of blaming the government for the act of some evil-minded criminals, the Congress Party workers flocked to India Gate to shout, disturb and distort a heavy issue to suit their own political agenda. And the intentions became clear when chants of “Rahul Gandhi ki Jai” were raised in the ‘silent, peaceful, candle light vigil’ of the Congress Party members. The ruckus created was so unbearable that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra lost her cool. She shouted and rebuked the TV reporters and party workers who were running wild and free. Minor scuffles and mismanagement of the crowd made it difficult for Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to reach the main site of the protests.

But Priyanka Gandhi Vadra rebuking the Congress members is one thing, she had the authority and the security needed to shut down anyone in the crowd. What was even more unbearable was the behavior shown towards the other ladies in the rally. There was rampant pushing, groping and harassment going on in the crowd. Nobody was spared by the Congress workers, not even the reporters who had arrived at the India Gate to cover the candle light vigil.

A mockery of anger against the rapists was being displayed by the Congress Party members, who forgot to check their own advances in the heat of the moment. Probably excited about being in the vicinity of their leader and the ‘prodigy’ Rahul Gandhi, Congress workers did not spare anyone in the candle light vigil. Their happy and excited faces displaying their elation at being given a free run at breaking rules. Even if it extended for a few hours at night, why would they lose the opportunity to vent out their frustrations?

Mausami Singh, Associate Editor of Aaj Tak has come out on video, accusing the crowd gathered at India Gate of groping and manhandling her. She went all out and accused the crowd of not understanding the reason behind the march being called, the irony of women being groped and manhandled at a march to protest the rape of another girl, shows how disillusioned Congress Party workers are. The “unruly behavior” of the Congress people forced her to blurt out the incidents that took place with her.

The important point here is that Mausami Singh is just one lady, who has dared to come out and has a proper channel to vent out her misadventures. There would be countless such incidents which would have taken place in the dark, with ladies who have chosen to keep quiet. Perhaps because they were party workers who were asked to be present, or because they didn’t want to get their names involved in a shameful incident.

Somebody will have to be held accountable for this incident, and though we cannot say who, it is for you to decide. But understand one thing, people who commit such heinous acts do not belong to a single religion, caste, creed, political ideology or state. They are everywhere and it is high time that they are dealt with seriously. Irrespective of who did it and where, we should unanimously decide to reprimand them harshly.