|
Kolkata:
Many women saw themselves in her. Trinamool Congress firebrand
Mamata Banerjee, always clad in a simple cotton sari and slippers,
gave rise to huge hopes when she took charge of West Bengal a year
ago.
But incidents of crime against women increasingly highlighted by
the media in the past one year of her rule as well as Banerjee's
casual response has many women questioning her priorities.
As in other states, crime against women was a problem in Bengal
too though Kolkata was considered relatively safer as compared to
other metropolises. But it is the off-the-cuff remarks by Banerjee,
a single woman with no family of her own, that have drawn the most
flak.
The frequently reported instances of rape in the state had the
National Commission for Women (NCW) come calling to Kolkata to
meet Banerjee.
It sent a missive to the government after a study pointed out that
West Bengal recorded the second highest number of rape cases in
the country and the rate of increase in the reported cases was
twice the national average the past year.
Banerjee's description of two rapes -- on Park Street in Kolkata
and at Katwa in Burdwan -- as "fabricated" shocked many, said
activist Anuradha Talwar, who was Banerjee's comrade in the
campaign against Tata's Nano plant in Singur.
At the height of the movement, Tapasi, a teenager, was allegedly
raped and murdered within the fenced-up Tata Motors site in 2006.
The Trinamool chief had then stood rock solid by the victim's
family and pointed fingers at the Marxists for the crime.
Her reaction was quite in contrast after coming to power. Banerjee
got flak for dismissing the Park Street rape when a victim was an
Anglo-Indian woman. In Burdwan, one woman was raped earlier this
year.
The chief minister ate her words after police arrested the alleged
offenders.
The Park Street victim, who earlier accused the administration of
being insensitive, however, praised Banerjee.
"I have been getting a lot of help from the government. I think
she is doing a good job as a woman administrator," the victim told
IANS although she kept mum when asked if the city was safer for
women.
Calcutta University professor Ishita Mukherjee said: "Forget about
our expectations, she has not even been able to provide minimum
security to women.
The report by NCW claimed that the rape victims included girls
from the age of seven to women of 72 years.
Many working women now fear staying outside their homes late at
night.
Banerjee also seems to have lost some of her appeal as a mass
leader.
"We thought she was one of us. We believed in her promise of 'parivartan'
(change). But it seems she is like all other politicians who make
hollow promises," said domestic maid Lakshmi Maa.
Some feel the feisty leader deserves more time.
"She has initiated many welfare schemes. Moreover, a year is too
short a time to evaluate," said professor Bonita Alleaz of
Calcutta University.
Well known social activist Medha Patkar said: "Expectations from
her are very high. Hope she can deliver."
|
Comments
|
Quick links