BackGender violence and political apathy
Arun Jaitley's rape remark is a reflection of how casually Indian politicians treat gender violence
Premium
The insensitive manner in which finance minister Arun Jaitley dismissed the brutal gang rape of a girl in a New Delhi bus in 2012 as a small incident may not quite match the regressive remark by Mulayam Singh Yadav that “boys will be boys". But that a man as sophisticated as Jaitley can say something like this (although he regretted it later) is a reflection of how casually Indian politicians treat gender violence.
Jaitley should worry more about the threats that Indian women face every day on the streets rather than a few tourist dollars. The remarks came just a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi argued from the ramparts of the Red Fort that the root cause of gender violence lies in our social attitudes.
If the finance minister is worried about the economic costs of gender violence, then he would do well to focus on more substantive issues such as the abysmal labour force participation of Indian women or how neglect of pregnant women in households has added to child stunting.
Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
