Guest guest Posted July 9, 2007 Report Share Posted July 9, 2007 Rajkot, INDIA (July 5, 2007): A woman in western India has stripped to her underwear in public to protest over alleged abuses from her husband's family for not providing a dowry. Her in-laws were questioned by the police and have been released on bail. The Hindu woman shocked residents of the normally conservative city of Rajkot in Gujarat state, by her half-naked parade through the street. Women's groups say her case highlights the plight of women who continue to face abuse at the hands of males. 'EXTREME STEPS' There are reports that the 22-year-old tried to set herself on fire a few days ago demanding the police take immediate action against her husband and in-laws, who she alleged had been physically torturing her for a dowry. In an interview to a local TV channel, Pooja Chauhan justified her action saying she did it to embarrass her husband and in-laws. Although paying and accepting a dowry has been illegal in India for more than 40 years, it still goes on. Official estimates show that every year almost 7,000 women are killed by their spouses and in-laws because of inadequate dowry payments. Ranjana Kumari - who runs a refuge for victims of dowry and domestic abuse - says the law enforcement authorities need to be more active in tackling the problem. " It's a shame that women are driven to take such extreme steps. The law enforcing agencies must be more active, " she told the BBC News website. A police inspector in Rajkot, SS Jhala, told the BBC that " swift action " had been taken against Ms Chauhan's family, who had been arrested and were now on bail. Police have denied reports that they charged her for indecent behaviour. SOURCE: BBC NEWS. By Jyotsna Singh BBC News, Delhi URL: http://tinyurl.com/2stfmq Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 9, 2007 Report Share Posted July 9, 2007 Namaste: It matters little whether or not she was indecent by taking off her clothes. The fact is that most of these crimes committed against women are done because of greed. Ignorance, poverty, and greed drive people to be the worse sort of beings. In Thailand they sell their young daughters into prostitution, so that the father can buy a refrigerator. Thailand is a hotbed of prostitution, because the women are viewed as a commodity (as in many other places)--not people. In Japan women have taken a different tack. Their culture requires that they become a slave to the mother-in-law, and the husband really can show no affection for the wife. Women in Japan have simply refused to marry. Their birth rates are falling drastically as a result. After having lived in Japan myself, I can attest that marriage under these conditions is not worthwhile. It is truly better to be a celibate nun. When women are treated no better than a donkey attached to a cart, then the women must rethink their role. Peace, Shankari Devi Bhakta <devi_bhakta wrote: Rajkot, INDIA (July 5, 2007): A woman in western India has stripped to her underwear in public to protest over alleged abuses from her husband's family for not providing a dowry. Her in-laws were questioned by the police and have been released on bail. The Hindu woman shocked residents of the normally conservative city of Rajkot in Gujarat state, by her half-naked parade through the street. Women's groups say her case highlights the plight of women who continue to face abuse at the hands of males. 'EXTREME STEPS' There are reports that the 22-year-old tried to set herself on fire a few days ago demanding the police take immediate action against her husband and in-laws, who she alleged had been physically torturing her for a dowry. In an interview to a local TV channel, Pooja Chauhan justified her action saying she did it to embarrass her husband and in-laws. Although paying and accepting a dowry has been illegal in India for more than 40 years, it still goes on. Official estimates show that every year almost 7,000 women are killed by their spouses and in-laws because of inadequate dowry payments. Ranjana Kumari - who runs a refuge for victims of dowry and domestic abuse - says the law enforcement authorities need to be more active in tackling the problem. " It's a shame that women are driven to take such extreme steps. The law enforcing agencies must be more active, " she told the BBC News website. A police inspector in Rajkot, SS Jhala, told the BBC that " swift action " had been taken against Ms Chauhan's family, who had been arrested and were now on bail. Police have denied reports that they charged her for indecent behaviour. SOURCE: BBC NEWS. By Jyotsna Singh BBC News, Delhi URL: http://tinyurl.com/2stfmq Need a vacation? Get great deals to amazing places on Travel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 9, 2007 Report Share Posted July 9, 2007 As usual, and this is not confined to India by any means, the protests of a desperate woman will be harshly criticized by those who don't say a word against the violent social patterns that cause so much suffering. I doubt anyone would have paid attention to her if she had walked her lone protest in everyday dress. Ironic that stripping would arouse more protest than the other woman setting herself on fire. Max >It matters little whether or not she was indecent by taking off her >clothes. The fact is that most of these crimes committed against >women are done because of greed. Ignorance, poverty, and greed drive >people to be the worse sort of beings. -- Max Dashu Suppressed Histories Archives http://www.suppressedhistories.net Real Women, Global Vision Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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