India’s New Prime Minister Fights Rape And Gender Discrimination In First Speech

In his first Independence Day speech as Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has spoken to crowds about protecting women and urging parents to take responsibility in teaching their sons right from wrong. Following the gang-rape and death of a 23-year old physiotherapy student on a bus in Delhi in 2012, India’s new Prime Minister addressed the actions of males in society, and the principles being taught to young children: “Today as we hear about the incidents of rapes, our head hangs in shame, I want to ask parents when your daughter turns 10 or 12 years old, you ask ‘where are you going? When will you return?’ Do the parents dare to ask their sons ‘where are you going? Why are you going? Who are your friends?’ “After all, the rapist is also someone’s son. If only parents decide to put as many restrictions on their sons as they do on their own daughters.” In the powerful speech, Modi addressed the ongoing issue of India’s gender discrimination, appealing to doctors to stop the practice of aborting female foetuses and the general discrimination against little girls in the country. The new Prime Minister also took the opportunity to congratulate “29 medals women athletes have won” at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Modi made women’s safety a priority during his election campaign manifesto, promising to enforce tough laws to address the crimes, but he also reminded families of their responsibility to raise their sons well.