Mumbai: Under fire from the opposition over the horrific gangrape of a 22-year-old photojournalist in Mumbai on Thursday night, Maharashtra Home Minister RR Patil today said women journalists reporting in isolated areas would be given police protection - a comment that is being criticized as impractical and ill-considered.
"A woman journalist going to isolated places will be given protection from the local police station," said the minister, listing out action taken by his government, battling a flood of outrage on the streets of Mumbai and across the nation.
He also asked for "suggestions from the public" on ways to make the city safer for women.
Calling it impractical, a woman journalist reacted angrily, "This is ridiculous. Why will a journalist discuss her story with a cop?"
Activists questioned why women had to put up with different rules for their own safety, just because the government had failed to protect them.
The young photojournalist, who works for an English magazine, was gang-raped at the abandoned Shakti Mills compound in Mahalakhmi in south Mumbai, where she had gone on assignment along with a colleague.
They were assaulted by five men who beat the colleague and tied him up with a belt before taking turns to rape the woman. All five have been identified and one has been arrested.
Mr Patil's comments came against the backdrop of Opposition calls for his resignation.
"If you can't improve the law and order situation in Mumbai, you must resign," said the BJP's state president Devendra Fadnavis.
"A woman journalist going to isolated places will be given protection from the local police station," said the minister, listing out action taken by his government, battling a flood of outrage on the streets of Mumbai and across the nation.
He also asked for "suggestions from the public" on ways to make the city safer for women.
Activists questioned why women had to put up with different rules for their own safety, just because the government had failed to protect them.
Advertisement
They were assaulted by five men who beat the colleague and tied him up with a belt before taking turns to rape the woman. All five have been identified and one has been arrested.
Advertisement
"If you can't improve the law and order situation in Mumbai, you must resign," said the BJP's state president Devendra Fadnavis.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
PMLA Case: Anil Deshmukh's Sons Get Passports Back, But Can't Leave Country Without Court Nod Cops To Draft Guidelines On Using Loudspeakers, Says Maharashtra Home Minister Amid Azaan Row, Maharashtra Home Minister Warns Against Communal Statements Windows Computers Lead To 'Blue Screen Of Death' Due To CrowdStrike Error Massive Worldwide Microsoft Outage: Flights, Markets, Stock Exchange Down Microsoft 'Blue Screen Of Death' Outage: Full List Of Services Hit In India India's Electricity Demand May Surge By 8% This Year: Report PM Modi Hails Lockheed Martin's Make In India, Make For World Drive Study Abroad: Top 10 Management Universities In United Kingdom Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.