[sacw] FACT SHEET ON RAJASTHAN

[Harsh Kapoor]

28 Aug. 1999
=46YI
(South Asia Citizens Web)

-----------
=46rom Sabrang Communications

=46ACT SHEET ON RAJASTHAN
Women under saffron
Bhairon Singh Shekhawat's rule from 1990 -November 1998
=D8 Gang rape and torture of Dhapu Bai of Utharna, in Tonk district by nine
men.
=D8 !5th June 1996, Dhapu Bai gang raped again. Her husband and son beaten u=
p
with iron rods.
=D8 4th Sept 1997, Naina Jogani, a devout Jain raped by a Jain monk in
Bhinmal, Jalore.
=D8 5th Sept 1997, a young girl gang raped by 8 men in the J C Bose hostel o=
f
University of Rajasthan, Jaipur.
=D8 Manorama Singh of the BJP said the victim of the University hostel rape
case was responsible for her situation " or why did she not speak out
earlier while wallowing in filth for seven years"
=D8 Chief Minister Bhairon Singh Shekawat reply to the above incidents when
womens' groups took repeated protests to him: "Why this unnecessary hue and
cry over one or two rape cases?"
=D8 Deputy Chief Minister Hari Shankar Bhabra's response on the floor of the
Rajasthan state assembly: "Striya charitram purushasya bhagyam, Davo na
janati kutahamanushyam? ( The character of woman and the destiny of man are
such that even Gods cannot say anything about it, why talk of human?)
=D8 After the anti-Bhanwari Devi rally held on Januaray 18, 1996 when asked
how he ( Bahiron singh Shekawat) could have allowed the use of abusive
language ('randi' - prostitute / kalankini - bad omen) against Bhanwari Devi
by the speakers, Mr. Shekawat replied that this was a democracy and he could
not stop people from expressing their feelings.
=D8 BJP legislators, and BJP mahila morcha called Bhanwari Devi a liar and
actively organised the anti-Bhanwari Devi rally.
=D8 The Congress, several social and women's organisations formed the 'Mahil=
a
Atyachar Virodhi Jan Andolan' and took up 12 other cases of rape and
molestation where there was gross neglect on the part of the investigating
agency. The BJP Mahila Morcha was silent on this issue.
=D8 April 1997, the son of the transport minister Rohitas Sharma threw acid =
on
the face of a school going girl. Despite large scale protests and due to
CM's patronage no arrests made thus far.
=D8 Demand for 'State Women's Commission' and a 'State Human Rights
Commission' disregarded by state's BJP government. However, the 'State
Commission for Service of Cows' was set up.