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It is a repeating headline, but sadly yet another teenager has been raped in Uttar Pradesh (UP). This is one rape case of a Dalit teenager that has come to light in the last few days. The actual number of rapes taking place every day in the state is unknown.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data released in December 2023, UP is found to be the most unsafe state for women in the country today.
The latest victim was a 16-year-old orphan from village Masauli in district Barabanki who was reportedly abducted in August by a 25 year old married man. She was allegedly raped by the accused, and his brother.
After waiting for hours to file her complaint at the police station, the rape victim was allegedly forced to withdraw the complaint filed soon after her abduction on August 22. Then the girl was advised to go home in silence after accepting Rs 50,000 from the accused as compensation.
This is called “instant justice” in UP. Matters of life and death are at the mercy of the whim of those in power today. Justice, as if is no longer practiced according to law, the courts or a judge most of the time.
However, the victim’s maternal uncle complained to the Superintendent of Police, and sent a letter to the UP Chief Minister (CM) Adityanath, after which action has been taken against police personnel and an FIR has been filed against the accused on charges of kidnapping and rape.
As far as the Supreme Court (SC) is concerned the preference to bypass the rule of law maybe be instant, but it is not justice. Last Monday, the SC heard a petition in favour of ending ‘bulldozer justice’.
Bulldozer Babas, And Mamas
Brought into fashion by CM Adityanath, ‘bulldozer justice’ has fired the imagination of other ruling party leaders who want to beat UP’s CM at his own game.
Madhya Pradesh’s former CM Shivraj Chouhan, now a Member of Parliament, is a fan of bulldozer justice. He had earned the name of ‘Bulldozer Mama’ for using the industrial machinery to destroy the property of people accused of various crimes!
In UP the CM is called ‘Bulldozer Baba’. Every time a home or the business premises of mostly political opponents is razed to the ground in open violation of the human rights of citizens, the state echoes with a collective cheer by the supporters of the CM.
“Mitti mein mila doonga, Pakistan bhej doonga,” are common threats as ‘Bulldozer Baba’ is seen waving his finger and threatening to reduce citizens to ashes, and to send a couple or more to Pakistan!
The CM prefers instant justice to the due process of law, leaving people around the world alarmed at his bulldozer actions.
Two years ago, three United Nations special rapporteurs wrote a letter to the Indian government. Balakrishnan Rajagopal, Fernand de Varennes and Ahmed Shaheed expressed concern regarding forced evictions, housing and property demolitions in UP, Madhya Pradesh (MP), Gujarat and New Delhi.
Now the Supreme Court (SC) has promised to lay down pan-India guidelines on the issue of bulldozer justice. It is certainly not in favour of unauthorised construction or encroachment, but Justice BR Gavai added that demolition can take place only according to municipal law and after following every procedure.
The home of any accused or a convict cannot be demolished without following the law! “We are not going to protect any unauthorised construction or encroachment on public roads, not even temples on the public road,” Gavai assured.
Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for the petitioners wanted a statement to be recorded that bulldozer justice will not be meted out to people.
“Every state is now indulging in this,” Dave said.
Each Other’s Fans
As far as actor and parliamentarian Kangana Ranaut is concerned she fully supports the bulldozer policy of the CM. Ranaut points out that “if this country needs law and order, it needs to respect leaders like the CM.
“Considering the vastness and the scale and the population of this country which is so overwhelming, people who can deliver justice like the CM are needed. People like him deliver justice within a week.
“And for that sometimes he has his own intelligence, his own brilliance, his own ways of handling things. I am in complete approval of that.”
Ranaut does not hesitate to point out to the media, adding that she is very proud of him. Both the CM and Ranaut admire each other endlessly.
The CM said in the past that he sees the devotion of Meera Bai and the bravery of Rani Lakshmi Bai embodied in Ranaut.
Happy Birthday Iqra Hasan Choudhary
When Samajwadi Party (SP) parliamentarian Iqra Hasan Choudhary received a letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on her birthday on August 26, it was seen also as an invite to the 29-year-old MP to join the ruling party.
But the youngest Muslim woman elected to Parliament, told the media that she would rather die than do that.
Today Choudhary is one of only 27 Muslim women ever to make it into Indian Parliament. The key to her success in the last Lok Sabha elections was a progressive campaign based on issues facing the people of her constituency, across caste, class, gender and religious divides.
Choudhary was first noticed in 2019 during the anti-CAA protests. She was studying in London at that time and had led a protest against the discriminatory Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
During COVID-19, Choudhary returned to her hometown Kairana in western UP, in 2021. Her brother Nahid Hasan was contesting the 2022 Assembly elections from jail and she helped him win the elections.
Soon after, Choudhary gave up plans to finish her doctorate and decided to join active politics. Closest to her heart is the empowerment of women and their education, and social justice for all.
Choudhary prides herself on her grassroots connection with all those who voted for her, especially women who are visited by her in their home.
