No, This Is NOT Rape
It is not rape when an ‘upper’ caste girl gets raped.
It is not rape when a ‘lower’ caste boy rapes an ‘upper’ caste girl.
It is certainly not rape when a Muslim girl is raped by a Muslim boy.
It is definitely not rape when a Nun is raped by a Padre.
And it is not rape when any Christian girl is raped by anyone else.
No, it is not rape.
It is not rape when little girls from orphanages are abused by trustees.
It is not rape when little boys are abused by pedophiles in the name of religion.
It is certainly not rape when mentally or physically challenged girls are discovered pregnant.
It is definitely not rape when children are sexually abused in schools.
And it is not rape when videos of students fornicating are circulated in whatsapp groups.
No, it is not rape.
It is not rape when for a role in a film, you have to suck up the producer.
It is not rape when for an award for your work, you have to please the judge.
It is certainly not rape when for a thesis to be approved, the professor has to be satisfied.
It is definitely not rape when while approving a promotion or a transfer, your boss mentally undresses you.
And it is not rape when a prostitute satisfies the policeman to avoid incarceration.
No, it is not rape.
It is not rape when a girl is deceived regarding religion, and a love-jihad is done.
It is not rape when “Muttah marriages” are done and the family paid in full.
It is certainly not rape when “halala” is done to marry an ex-husband and stay in the family.
It is definitely not rape when a husband “coaxes” his dependent wife to wife-swapping.
And it is not rape when to bring in some business, the wife gets into “business”.
No, it is not rape.
It is not rape when Mothers are blamed for the son’s behaviour.
It is not rape when no one questions the Fathers for their son’s refusal to understand “NO”.
It is certainly not rape when Advertisers reinforce roles and looks for selling products.
It is definitely not rape when Films & TV channels encourage wayward behaviour.
And it is not rape when Society accepts drug addicts and sexual deviants as Role models.
No, it is not rape.
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So then What is rape?
It is rape when the girl is a Muslim or a Dalit Hindu and the criminals are “upper caste” Hindus.
It is rape when the girl is a Hindu and the criminals are Muslims.
It is definitely a rape when the parents want accountability from the State CM via TV channels.
It is certainly a rape when the parents want to be compensated for their dead daughter.
And it is a rape when the names of the criminals are missing from newspaper reports.
Yes, it is a rape then.
It is a rape when State elections are nearing.
It is a rape when a notorious gangster is to be protected and the police to be vilified.
It is definitely a rape when the Chief Minister of the State is from the ruling party at the Centre.
It is certainly a rape when the girl can accuse falsely and get away with it.
And it is a rape when the boy deserves to be compensated for his crime because he’s a juvenile.
Yes, it is a rape then.
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What can be Done?
Calling out the hypocrisy will not help the victims
Calling out the frauds will not help the victims
Calling the victims as survivors will not give them succour
Telling girls to be bold is not enough.
The Government & Law agencies need to:
- Verify the crime in the shortest possible time
- Punish the criminals in the strictest of manner
- If found fake, punish the “victim” to serve justice
- Sensitise Fathers to share responsibility for son’s behaviour (families can do this)
- Teach sons to understand that forcing oneself on another is not manliness
- Restrict News channels from outraging selectively, coaching parents and victims
- Fine fake news spreaders
- Suspend elected MPs, MLAs, Corporators and restrict movement & speech of politicians who rake up such issues only before or during polls.
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