Uttar Pradesh has become 'rape' capital of India; Is CM Akhilesh Yadav listening?

Uttar Pradesh- the state with the largest population lies in the state of shame and its image has been painted with black colour. The recent shocking gangrape and murder case of two dalit cousin sisters has sent out a message of how women are unsafe in the state ruled by the young chief minister Akhilesh Yadav.

After last week's Badaun gangrape and murder case, there have been spurt of rising cases of rapes in Uttar Pradesh.

Heinous crimes against women like rape, murder, molestation, sexual harassment, torture, stalking, acid attacks, physical abuse and exploitation have become a regular news piece these days, especially from the state of Uttar Pradesh.

India may have become a liberal society over the past few years, but it has failed to secure the modesty of women who get raped, gangraped, teased or groped on a regular basis.

Even, the United Nations has condemned the "brutal" gang rape and murder of two teenaged girls last week in Badaun district, calling for "immediate action against the perpetrators and to address violence against women and girls across India".

What is UP CM Akhilesh Yadav doing?

Akhilesh Yadav, in his two year- tenure as the UP CM, has brought 'shame' by ensuring no public safety and law and order have been replaced by 'goonda raaj'.

On being questioned about rising rape incidents, he gave a brazen defiance reply to a reporter, "I hope you have not faced any danger".

Akhilesh Yadav who was seen as a ray of hope and change has filled his report card with "no achievements and only failures". Now, if he wants to get back the lost goodwill and respect for him and his party, then, it must come up with a concrete solution to tackle rising rape cases.

Akhilesh government need to step up security measures to ensure safety of women. Those who harass women and consider them as an object, need to be told that they won't get away easily.

UP police need to protect women, not Azam Khan's buffaloes

Remember in February, this year, how UP police went into tizzy when SP senior leader Azam Khan's buffaloes had gone missing.

Dog squads, crime branch sleuths and police personnel of various police stations raided slaughter houses and meat shops to collect clues about the stolen bovine.

Even Azam Khan had claimed, "My lost buffaloes are more famous than queen Victoria or me, thanks to the media."

A massive search operation was subsequently launched and the animals were recovered on February 3, but only after three policemen were "suspended" for dereliction of duty.

Had UP government shown such swiftness in its administration to ensure the safety of women, then perhaps the countless number of rapes would not have taken in UP.

Should Mulayam Singh Yadav replace Akhilesh Yadav with Dimple Yadav as UP's CM?

As the Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam's main aim is that the chief minister has to be a 'Yadav' from his family, then by appointing his daughter-in-law Dimple Yadav as the CM can show that he respects women and can possibly keep his so-called PM ambition alive for next elections.

And Dimple Yadav had also shown her loyalty towards her father-in-law by issuing a statement that rapists need not be hung.

Rape issues politicised

Badaun gangrape case opened a new issue for politicians to "make hay while the sun shines". Since the incident took place, a beeline of politicians made quick visits to the bereaved families of the slain girls. From Rahul Gandhi to Mayawati, both the politicians went to console the families of rape victims.

Both Congress and BSP had a rout in UP and perhaps, they thought that rape case will earn them a little political mileage.

Today, LJP chief and Union minister in the NDA government Ram Vilas Paswan also visited Badaun to take stock of the situation.

But, the real point is weather these high profile visits can help in bringing down the number of rape cases, taking place in UP everyday?

Can Modi government ensure safety for women?

While terming the Badaun gangrape case "outrageous", the Union HRD minister Smriti Irani rightly said, "Akhilesh Yadav had let down not only the people of UP, but all youngsters. There was a presumption that the CM, who was touted as the youngest CM of UP, would live up to that responsibility. It is unfortunate that he has let down not only the people of UP, but all those youngsters who felt that possibly he would redefine youth and governance one day," Irani had said.

The BJP-led central government should also turn into a fire-fighting mode and announced a slew of measures, including enhanced patrolling and supervision by senior officers, to effectively check crimes against women.

In order to punish the culprits, suitable legislations need to be made in our country and all rapists should be given death sentence or life imprisonment to teach them and others a lesson.

Police need to spread more awareness on rape issues and maintain law and order, while politicians should rise above partisan interests to maintain dignity of girls and women.

Zero political willpower should be replaced with zero tolerance policy towards such crimes.

How women can protest themselves?

Women, who have to venture outside should always keep helpline numbers handy and carry pepper-spray to counter an attacker.

The skewed sex ratio in the male dominated state may be the reason behind incessant and grotesque rape cases, that drives men to commit such heinous crimes.

As per census 2011, sex Ratio in Uttar Pradesh is 912 for each 1000 males, which is below national average of 940.

It is indeed a long battle ahead for the fairer sex to live without fear in the male-dominated society.