Delhi Police Commissioner B K Gupta, I demand you resign

Diyar B K Gupta,

Your recent recommendation to women to not go out alone at night stinks of a part of the reason women are not safe at night in Delhi. It is called slutshaming. The idea that the existence of victim invites a crime. We cannot be a society of warriors and gangs and roam around with bodyguards. If we were, we wouldn’t need the police anyway. That the Police Commissioner of the Capital of India recommends this is alarming.

I would like to bring to your attention Delhi’s unique memory of Women’s Day celebrations. A girl got killed outside her college in broad daylight. Women accompanied by another woman, or couples or even men on the streets are not necessarily safe by night, because of the free operations of criminals, and your police force is as much a danger on the streets at night as it is a security measure. Policemen are often drunk on their job, behave lecherously with women and threaten abuse if challenged.

Also, policemen being drunk makes me question their efficiency or interest in preventing crime. I accept that it isn’t most of the police force, but at the same time, it isn’t all men on the streets who are criminals either, is it? If a policeman can know that a colleague is drunk and not raise his voice, then he is as much as problem as the drunk one, because both are a security leak.

Even ensuring professional standards in the police force will make Delhi streets safer.

Crime in Delhi is rising. It isn’t the women who are the problem on the street, but the rampant criminals. The rising rate speaks of ineffective policing and your statement speaks of a grave misunderstanding of the problem. Rape is a hate crime. Those criminals on the street are intoxicated on their own power and often alcohol and drugs and looking to get kicks by exercising that power to force people to do things against their will. Be it beating up people or raping. As long as there are people, there will never be a shortage of targets. Your recommendation is absurd.

I challenge you to find a woman in India who is over eighteen who hasn’t been harassed on the streets by day or night. Crimes happen inside homes too. Should we just create large bank vaults for women?

Believe it or not, women know well how vulnerable they are. They are reminded of it every day. I don’t think there is a single woman on the streets of Delhi at night who isn’t hyper alert as to threats to her safety. They know well, but they must LIVE. They are a significant part of the country’s population. As such, many of them have absolutely legitimate reasons for being out at night. Be it jobs like media and call centers or doctors on shift duty. Prostitutes. Vegetable vendors buying their produce for selling early in the morning. Cinema and pub goers returning home from leisure activities that are currently legal for women in India.

They cannot dematerialize from one place to another. Most women make arrangements for safety. Most men know the need and are happy to escort, but if you are depending on this to be able to show low crime rates in the city, then you should be distributing your salary to them too. This is a result of the lack of safety that you are asking them to accept as normal, and you feel no shame in speaking this in the form of a lofty recommendation to women. You don’t even realize that you are making recommendations for how people should bear with the messes you are answerable for.

What are the improvements to security that you can claim? How are you even a good source of advice on security if crime is flourishing and you seem to in effect be accepting it as a fact of life that people must work around?

I can understand that you have the right to recommend people safety measures to deal with situations – it is the duty of citizens to support police initiatives for safety. But this is no temporary measure you are requesting. You are recommending an indefinite change to the freedom of a significant number of citizens. Is this constitutional? Do women have or not have or selectively have the right to be safe on the streets in the capital of the country at night? If it is their constitutional right, why are you speaking like a criminal – “you want to be safe, stay inside, or suffer”?

Delhi streets aren’t safe by day or night for men or women, and you, the person recommending that potential victims give up their freedoms in order to keep themselves safe are the person accountable for this lack of safety. You are, in effect conceeding defeat to criminals and saying that nothing can be done of them, and that citizens must hide. I suggest you resign and someone else get the opportunity to tackle this urgent problem.

Yours

Pissed off woman.

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34 thoughts on “Delhi Police Commissioner B K Gupta, I demand you resign”

  1. “you, the person recommending that potential victims give up their
    freedoms in order to keep themselves safe are the person accountable for
    this lack of safety.”

    Well said!

  2. “you, the person recommending that potential victims give up their
    freedoms in order to keep themselves safe are the person accountable for
    this lack of safety.”

    Well said!

  3. Why doesn’t he issue advice asking all men to stay home? Given that more criminals are men, isn;t that a better way to prevent crime?

  4. Why doesn’t he issue advice asking all men to stay home? Given that more criminals are men, isn;t that a better way to prevent crime?

  5. Its a pitythat those who are in power and have a say chose to adopt a narrow mindset.

    Strong. And valid points there Vidyut.

  6. Its a pitythat those who are in power and have a say chose to adopt a narrow mindset.

    Strong. And valid points there Vidyut.

  7. Read somewhere –
    Our society tries to teach “Do not get raped” insted of teaching “Do not Rape”

  8. Read somewhere –
    Our society tries to teach “Do not get raped” insted of teaching “Do not Rape”

  9. Too emotional.

    Let us say this official did not say what he did. Let us also assume he took all the steps you suggested he do to upgrade and retrain the police. It is still good advise.

    On the other hand, I earnestly hope no woman takes your gung-ho attitude to heart and venture out alone in Delhi. Who can demand your resignation?

    1. This article is not emotional. It is factual. Believe it or not, women do need to be out of their homes many times. Women are careful. You don’t need a freaking police commissioner to tell them to take precautions, while blatantly accepting crime as a fact of the city. Crime is increasing. How much do you hide? what then? we have men hiding too in another five years? You need the commissioner to do his job, not put the onus on safety on women. I can understand my mom saying it. I cannot understand the guy answerable for women being in increasing danger saying it.

      1. Unfortunately there are many mothers not saying it and daughters not listening to their parents sane advise.

        Like I said, any which way you look at it the official is pretty much on the dot.

        There are cities in the world, not just uncouth Delhi, where women are not safe alone in the nights. Even in cities where the police is very efficient. It’s a ratio thing. How many policemen can you have for every lone woman out? Fact of life.

  10. Too emotional.

    Let us say this official did not say what he did. Let us also assume he took all the steps you suggested he do to upgrade and retrain the police. It is still good advise.

    On the other hand, I earnestly hope no woman takes your gung-ho attitude to heart and venture out alone in Delhi. Who can demand your resignation?

    1. This article is not emotional. It is factual. Believe it or not, women do need to be out of their homes many times. Women are careful. You don’t need a freaking police commissioner to tell them to take precautions, while blatantly accepting crime as a fact of the city. Crime is increasing. How much do you hide? what then? we have men hiding too in another five years? You need the commissioner to do his job, not put the onus on safety on women. I can understand my mom saying it. I cannot understand the guy answerable for women being in increasing danger saying it.

      1. Unfortunately there are many mothers not saying it and daughters not listening to their parents sane advise.

        Like I said, any which way you look at it the official is pretty much on the dot.

        There are cities in the world, not just uncouth Delhi, where women are not safe alone in the nights. Even in cities where the police is very efficient. It’s a ratio thing. How many policemen can you have for every lone woman out? Fact of life.

  11. arrrgh . growing up as a culture takes so long .. in any country .. 

    changing the mindset of a culture is a huge project … blogposts like the above, and millions of other small contributions, from politeness to riots, will be part of what does that …

    in the meantime, there are some things we as individuals can do .. it has to do with an inner connection to our higher selves, which gives us both guidance and a kind of power that helps to “create” the world we walk in .. 

    and if you are a mother, raise your sons in a new way.

  12. arrrgh . growing up as a culture takes so long .. in any country .. 

    changing the mindset of a culture is a huge project … blogposts like the above, and millions of other small contributions, from politeness to riots, will be part of what does that …

    in the meantime, there are some things we as individuals can do .. it has to do with an inner connection to our higher selves, which gives us both guidance and a kind of power that helps to “create” the world we walk in .. 

    and if you are a mother, raise your sons in a new way.

  13. @vidyut having pretty much traveled across the country alone i must say India is no way close to being safe for women. somehow its pathetic that men dont see the heart behind the boob !

  14. @vidyut having pretty much traveled across the country alone i must say India is no way close to being safe for women. somehow its pathetic that men dont see the heart behind the boob !

  15. SHAMELESSFELLOW

    I AM REALLY SORRY FOR UR MINDSET AND VERY NARROW THINKING SENSE DONOT BE FOOLISH HE ITS ALL AN ADVICE FOR PRECAUTION. 

  16. SHAMELESSFELLOW

    I AM REALLY SORRY FOR UR MINDSET AND VERY NARROW THINKING SENSE DONOT BE FOOLISH HE ITS ALL AN ADVICE FOR PRECAUTION. 

  17. great blog. agree with it entirely. As a resident of Delhi, I see on a daily basis how women are treated in this city. Shameful. How about a educational programme for policemen? The commissioner needs to be proactive in retraining cops and not making excuses. Beautifully written, Vidyut. Many Thanks

  18. great blog. agree with it entirely. As a resident of Delhi, I see on a daily basis how women are treated in this city. Shameful. How about a educational programme for policemen? The commissioner needs to be proactive in retraining cops and not making excuses. Beautifully written, Vidyut. Many Thanks

  19. Hi Dear Police Chief, 
    If you are recommending that, then its a sad paradox. The police man who is supposed to ensure safety is suggesting people dont go out when its “unsafe”. Ok fine we will do that, but then why should u be paid from taxpayers money if we all agree to stay indoors as per your suggestion? A cop did come to the aid of the poor girl who got shot outside the college campus, albeit when it was too late. But even then the Cop dint know what to do next. He actually hailed an auto. He was not equipped with basic means for communication with other police units. nor was he trained to handle the situation that was well with in his beat. Poor Training, salary, career prospects & above all dismal leadership are issues that u need to address, to begin with. Dear Police Chief, its easy for me to sit here and tell you what your job is, but i insist on doing it cause u guys have let us down so often and with such alarming regularity. Your Red beacon Cars and Free passes for your kids for mega events don’t impress me anymore.

    Nicely written piece @Vidyut. Thanks for speaking out what we all have in our mind but don’t have the ability to articulate. all the best & keep ’em coming.

    regards and all that.

    Deepz. 

  20. Hi Dear Police Chief, 
    If you are recommending that, then its a sad paradox. The police man who is supposed to ensure safety is suggesting people dont go out when its “unsafe”. Ok fine we will do that, but then why should u be paid from taxpayers money if we all agree to stay indoors as per your suggestion? A cop did come to the aid of the poor girl who got shot outside the college campus, albeit when it was too late. But even then the Cop dint know what to do next. He actually hailed an auto. He was not equipped with basic means for communication with other police units. nor was he trained to handle the situation that was well with in his beat. Poor Training, salary, career prospects & above all dismal leadership are issues that u need to address, to begin with. Dear Police Chief, its easy for me to sit here and tell you what your job is, but i insist on doing it cause u guys have let us down so often and with such alarming regularity. Your Red beacon Cars and Free passes for your kids for mega events don’t impress me anymore.

    Nicely written piece @Vidyut. Thanks for speaking out what we all have in our mind but don’t have the ability to articulate. all the best & keep ’em coming.

    regards and all that.

    Deepz. 

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