Salwar kameez, provocative?
HYDERABAD: Director General of Police V Dinesh Reddy's remarks that women attract unwanted attention by dressing up in provocative clothing like salwar kameez (!) has raised the hackles of one and all, from college girls to film stars and fashion designers.
'Oh my God! I am appalled. If that is the sentiment of the police, I think they should start wearing dhotis,' commented Lakshmi Manchu, actor and talk show host.
'The DGP reflects and supports the sexist nature and spineless character of all those men who make this city unsafe for girls,' fumed an engineering student, Divya (name changed).
'A DGP like that gives the entire police force a bad image. I won't be surprised if a woman is harassed in a police station and the DGP blames her for it. He needs to be educated,' she said.
Echoing her views renowned fashion designer from the city, Asmita Marwa, said, 'This New Year, when one has to think of women's empowerment, it seems the state of women is going back to square one.
A woman can wear anything she is comfortable in, and anything she can carry off well, nobody has the right to comment.' Agreeing with her 17-yearold student, Shikha (name changed), said, 'As a student, it is very insulting for the DGP to say such things.
What a woman wants to wear is her personal affair. If tomorrow, a woman wearing a mini skirt walks into a police station to help, she won't be treated like any other women, just because these people think she is indecently dressed.' She also felt the police boss's comments are insulting for men as well.
'Not all men stoop that low or get provoked by a woman in salwar kameez. Being in such a high position and making such statements is a little shocking.
And going by the statements he is making, I guess, if a girl is raped, it is going to be the fault of the girl,' she said.
Women's rights groups are understandably furious over the issue. Usha Rani, founder of Sannahita opined, 'The first thing the DGP should do is close down all the shops selling these clothes.
If he thinks he or the other 'samparadaya vadikulu' are in a position to control things, they should control the minds and thoughts of people. In villages like Srikakulam, women living in a community don't wear blouses and yet they have been living a respectful life.
But, these very women were raped by police, and this should be brought to the notice of the DGP.' Offering an actress' perspective, Anjana Sukhani, who is in the city for the new year bash, said, 'I think it is very shocking to hear such statements and nobody has a right to judge this.' Even men in the city are surprised.
Laughing over it was a software employee from the city, Sudhamsh Khandavalli.
He said, 'Salwar kameez and provocative? Lol! I would suggest him to do a survey of how many girls who were raped were wearing provocative dresses.'
Another employee, Sri Prakash Achanta said, 'All women are not available and all men are not desperate. If girls wear glamorous clothes, there is nothing wrong in admiring them.
But that does not lead us to commit some atrocity. The DGP should think twice before making such statements. And also, what's with that eating some sort of food will give them josh statement.'
News Posted: 31 December, 2011
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