Now Reading: Gender equality questioned after PM’s protest video
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Gender equality questioned after PM’s protest video
Seven female protesters at the July 20 Jantar Mantar protest were doxxed after the event ended, The Hindu reports. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a July 31 Instagram reel, called them 'misguided…
The Story in Brief
Seven female protesters at the July 20 Jantar Mantar protest were doxxed after the event ended, The Hindu reports. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a July 31 Instagram reel, called them 'misguided daughters' and said their abusive language was a 'cultural shock', but did not mention men who used similar language. The PM referred to the protest only as 'what happened at Jantar Mantar'.
The Hindu notes this treatment contrasts with India's early commitment to gender equality, when universal franchise was granted to all adults in 1952. The Election Commission then worked to register 8 crore women as individual voters, despite many identifying themselves by male relatives. The current revision exercise appears to work on presumption of exclusion.
The Indian Opinion
The Prime Minister's selective criticism risks reinforcing a double standard: women who speak out are 'misguided', while men are ignored. But the protest itself involved foul language from both sides. Ordinary Indians may wonder why the focus is on individuals rather than the core demand for accountability. The test will be whether the PM addresses the men's behaviour equally, or if electoral roll revisions become more inclusive.
Source: thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
