Delhi rape victim's father urges viewing of BBC documentary - Telegraph
The father of a woman who died after a brutal gang-rape in Delhi said on Thursday he thought everyone should watch a documentary about the attack broadcast by the BBC but banned in India.
“If a man can speak like that in jail, imagine what he would say if he was walking free,” he said, describing the documentary as “the bitter truth”.
The victim’s mother told NDTV, which was due to broadcast the film along with the BBC on Sunday to mark International Women’s Day, she did not object to the ban but believed Singh’s views were widespread in India.
“I don’t care what the government does, bans the film, doesn’t ban the film, the only thing I know is that nobody is afraid,” she said.
“It is not only Mukesh who thinks like this.”
Rajnath Singh, home minister, told parliament on Wednesday the government sought the ban because Singh’s comments were “highly derogatory and an affront to the dignity of women”.
In an interview from jail, Mukesh Singh said that women who went out at night had only themselves to blame if they attracted the attention of gangs of male molesters. “A girl is far more responsible for rape than a boy,” he said.
The documentary is the work of award-winningBritish film-maker Leslee Udwin, and has sparked fierce debate in India.
One government minister, M. Venkaiah Naidu, called it a “conspiracy to defame India”, but several politicians criticised the government for appearing more worried about the country’s reputation than about the dangers women face.
• India's Daughter, review: 'chilling'
• Interview with Delhi gang rapist left 'stain on my soul', says British film maker
The December 2012 gang-rape of a young physiotherapy student highlighted the frightening level of violence against women in the world’s second most populous country and triggered mass protests.
It led to a major reform of India’s rape laws, speeding up trials and increasing penalties, although many campaigners say little has changed for women on the ground.
The father of a woman who died after a brutal gang-rape in Delhi said on Thursday he thought everyone should watch a documentary about the attack broadcast by the BBC but banned in India.
“If a man can speak like that in jail, imagine what he would say if he was walking free,” he said, describing the documentary as “the bitter truth”.
The victim’s mother told NDTV, which was due to broadcast the film along with the BBC on Sunday to mark International Women’s Day, she did not object to the ban but believed Singh’s views were widespread in India.
“I don’t care what the government does, bans the film, doesn’t ban the film, the only thing I know is that nobody is afraid,” she said.
“It is not only Mukesh who thinks like this.”
Rajnath Singh, home minister, told parliament on Wednesday the government sought the ban because Singh’s comments were “highly derogatory and an affront to the dignity of women”.
In an interview from jail, Mukesh Singh said that women who went out at night had only themselves to blame if they attracted the attention of gangs of male molesters. “A girl is far more responsible for rape than a boy,” he said.
The documentary is the work of award-winningBritish film-maker Leslee Udwin, and has sparked fierce debate in India.
One government minister, M. Venkaiah Naidu, called it a “conspiracy to defame India”, but several politicians criticised the government for appearing more worried about the country’s reputation than about the dangers women face.
• India's Daughter, review: 'chilling'
• Interview with Delhi gang rapist left 'stain on my soul', says British film maker
The December 2012 gang-rape of a young physiotherapy student highlighted the frightening level of violence against women in the world’s second most populous country and triggered mass protests.
It led to a major reform of India’s rape laws, speeding up trials and increasing penalties, although many campaigners say little has changed for women on the ground.
And I haven't watched it, unless the ban is removed.
