The Orissa State Women's Commission has taken upon itself the onerous job of playing the moral police in state capital Bhubaneswar. On Friday, they took help from the real police and hounded out 200 young couples from a popular dating haunt, the Science Park.
The Indian Express had this to report: [Link]
(SCW chairperson Namita) Panda said she was prompted to raid the park because of rising cases of unwed mothers and rape on false promise of marriage by youngmen in the capital. “Most of the victims (of pre-marital pregnancy and rape) had told me that three parks (name not divulged) were being used as dating points in the city by young couples”, she said.
“I was surprised to see many girls in their college uniform sitting hand-in-hand with young boys. I found several pairs taking help of umbrellas to get more intimate in the public place,” said the SCW chairperson.
Hindustan Times tells us that the "Operation Park" would continue for a few more days. And that Panda’s husband Brahmananda Panda is a Biju Janata Dal Member of Parliament from Jagatsinghpur Lok Sabha constituency:
Tapashi Praharaj, state president of All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), told the Hindustan Times: “Panda’s eviction of lovers from the parks violates human rights and is against all democratic norms. Can she decide who’ll sit in the parks or not? No civilised society can tolerate such fascist activities. The woman who was dragged from a bus in Konark and gangraped was not roaming in any park. Since the SWC has failed to provide security to women of the state, they are indulging in such anti-women activities.”
A lover confronted by Panda said: “She came accompanied by TV cameras. That shows whether she is really interested to revive the moral fabric of the society or publicise her activities.”
Well, she has certainly got some mileage. Including a post in this blog. Clap, clap.
