The eighth round of talks between the Centre and protesting farmers’ unions remained inconclusive on Friday, with heated arguments reportedly having been exchanged between the two sides. Even as the meeting between the protesting farmers was ongoing on Friday, a shocking revelation was made by India Today editor Preeti Choudhry – that of female reporters facing sexual harassment and catcalling at the protest sites where farmers mainly from Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh are agitating.
Unfortunately, the revelation is not being given due importance, and sexual harassment of female reporters at protest sites is being expectedly normalised by a section of people whose sole purpose is to vilify the Modi government.
Preeti Choudhry took to Twitter to reveal the same and said that no less than a ‘sizable chunk’ of depraved ‘farmers’ was indulging in such criminal behaviour. In a subsequent tweet, the senior journalist also alleged that depraved protestors on the protest sites were grabbing the buttocks of female reporters, of which India Today’s own team had enough instances to report on.
“Our farmers have already etched themselves in world history, but they would be doing themselves the biggest disfavour by letting a sizeable chunk of depraves to sexually harass reporters. Our own team has enough incidents to report. Those in solidarity need to call this out too!” Choudhry tweeted on Friday.
In a subsequent tweet, while replying to a self-claimed Congressi and Bhartiya Kisan Union member, supporting the protest, who sought to indulge in whataboutery instead of condemning the depravity, Choudhry said that if someone does not want to give a ‘bite’, then they shouldn’t do so, but they should refrain from pinching their (female reporters’) buttocks.
Our farmers have already etched themselves in world history..but they would be doing themselves the biggest disfavour by letting a sizeable chunk of depraves to sexually harass reporters..our own team has enough incidents to report ..those in solidarity need to call this out too!
— Preeti Choudhry (@PreetiChoudhry) January 8, 2021
Don’t want to give a ‘bite’ don’t give it .. but refrain from pinching her bottom..Amazing that we choose to hide behind whataboutery.. https://t.co/kVFkQkzRgH
— Preeti Choudhry (@PreetiChoudhry) January 8, 2021
However, India Today did not report on the same, and for inexplicable reasons, did not cover the story on its network and affiliated channels. Even as Preeti Choudhry claimed that they have done so whenever they could, sexual harassment of female reporters who are merely doing their job at the protest sites should have ideally been among the top headlines of the country.
The farmers camping on the borders of Delhi, inconveniencing hundreds of thousands of commuters daily and also causing tremendous economic losses for the nation and specifically the National Capital Region (NCR) must be at least held accountable for their brazen show of depravity against women at protest sites.
The sexual harassment of women must not be allowed to be normalised, and the farmers’ unions must be pulled up for not reining in such criminal elements harassing female reporters at the protest sites, which by the way, do not seem to be in any small numbers. Law enforcing agencies too must be given a free hand to conduct sweeps at the protest sites to weed out all such molesters.
Very shame full it is Every body should condemn such harassment on lady reporters
Now you know who are agitating at Delhi border calling themselves farmers!
This incidents of female harassment reveals the quality of the protesters and their insincerity about the movement. In any real movement workers of the movement can never involve in such a shame full act.Infact it’s an anti government agitation by the corrupt politicians ,who with the aid of outsiders trying to topple the government.
Please do not be a part of attempt to defame this historic non violance farmers protest. Some reporters are government sponsored and spreading false news around and that makes far.ers upset. Over 60 farmers loss their life in cold rainy streets of New Delhi. Keep your humanitarian mind above your biased paid opinion. I hope your concious prevail over and above your paid job.
I agree with you. In such large protest swhere hundred and thousands are participating peacefully for their rights and sacrificing their life such blames are put to let down the protest. Such acts are also used as a tool to defame the protest. The protesters should ensure that such type of sponsored black sheeps may not get entry in their protest.The truth will prevail and the sacrifice of 60 farmers will not go waste.
The future generations of farmers will always remember these sacrificing unsung Heros.
Jai Jawan – Jai Kisan.
I support Farmers Andolan.
Ganga Ram.