I hang head in shame: Haryana chief minister's wife

Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda's wife Asha Hooda on Wednesday said her "head hangs in shame" when the state, a frontrunner in many areas, is pointed out for negative things that include adverse sex ratio and recent incidents of crimes against women.

Asha Hooda, who is also Vice President of Council for Child Welfare, Haryana, said that when people talk about the state having made rapid progress in various fields but at the same time point it out for adverse sex ratio and crimes against women, she feels ashamed.

"My head hangs in shame. I really feel ashamed when the state is pointed out (for negative things)...," Asha Hooda said addressing a seminar here on female foeticide and atrocities against women.

Asha Hooda said crime against women is not confined to a particular state but is a nation-wide problem and can be resolved through collective efforts.

"We cannot stop crime against women in the society until we change the mindset of people and for this, the women themselves would have to come forward," she said.

Haryana had reported a series a rape incidents in the last two weeks.

Asha Hooda sought the cooperation of the people, especially the Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), to check crime against women.

She also exhorted the women to come forward and make their significant contribution in checking the menace of crime against women.

"Social problems could not be resolved by merely enacting laws," she said, and urged the parents to inculcate moral values in their children so that they contribute to building a strong society.

In reply to a question, she agreed severe punishment should be given to the perpetrators of crime against women.

Later, replying to questions, Asha Hooda pointed out that a rape victim should not be made to frequently visit police stations to give her statement or subjected to intense questioning by lawyers in courts.

Asked about the growing number of incidents of rape in Haryana in the past few weeks, she said any act of crime against women was condemnable.

At the same time, she also said that ten years back, women were not forthcoming to register complaints but as the scenario had changed and they had become more aware, it had resulted in more cases being registered.

To another question, she also said she was "shocked" when she learnt about the Rohtak Apna Ghar scandal, especially when its in-charge was a woman.

Asked why she had not visited the family of any rape victim in recent past, Asha Hooda said a rape victim is already traumatised by the crime and she does not want that they should be further subjected to questioning, media glare, and politicising of the issue.

"People recognise me more as the Chief Minister's wife... let the political storm settle, then I will visit after a month or two," she said.

On female foeticide, she said "it was a paradox that some people kill the same girl child whom they worship in some other form".

To a question, Asha Hooda said she has no intention to jump into politics as the work she was doing at present keeps her fully occupied.

Popular television actress, Meghna Malik, who hails from Sonepat, said she was proud of being "a daughter of Haryana."      She said through a television serial, she got a chance to propagate Haryanvi.

Malik felt "dialogue" between a child and its parents in modern day society is missing, which also results in many ills facing the society.