Why our women leaders did not stand up for Meti sex CD case victim?

Vijayalakshmi, a nurse from Bagalkot who has levelled rape charges against HY Meti, former minister in the Siddaramaiah government, seems to have none for her support. For, she neither has the backing of her family members nor from those in the government who are expected to speak up for women. Otherwise quick to respond and act, Umashree, Minister for Women and Child Welfare in the Siddaramaiah government, seems to have adopted a preferred silence in the Vijayalakshmi case. Even the State's Women's Commission chairperson Nagalakshmi Bai, who is expected to protect the rights of women, has surprisingly maintained a distance from the whole issue.

The which showed then minister HY Meti in a compromising position with Vijayalakshmi had gone viral last year causing severe embarrassment to the Siddaramaiah government. Eventually, Meti resigned even before the Opposition parties could take advantage of the situation. But the case saw several twists and turns. The victim first denied that she was the woman in the CD. Vijayalakshmi later admitted it was she in the video but only to counter it then stating that she was forced to make false sexual harassment charges against Meti. After the case was booked, Vijayalakshmi had gone missing along with Subhash, the gunman of Meti, who too was reportedly involved in filming the CD.

After nearly seven months, Vijayalakshmi has now come out in the open and is switching television studios to narrate her ordeal. She even lodged a with Director General and Inspector General of Police RK Dutta on August 18. But, the CID police which was investigating into the incident has given a clean chit to Meti. Sitting in the Suvarna News studio, Vijayalakshmi said "They have made my life hell but Meti was given the clean chit. Depressed, I tried to end my life but my family members saved me. But now, I would not let this life go waste, so I decided to wage war against the minister." "I was kept under the  for all these months by Meti's supporters. They had threatened to kill my family members, if I had raised my voice against it," Vijayalakshmi had said.

When the incident broke out, Umashree had stated that "Truth needs to be uncovered through inquiry and CID will unravel the truth." She had also stated that it was not right on the part of a minister to do it. No one should take advantage of a woman's helplessness." But nothing beyond these statements that Umashree had offered to the victim. Even Nagalakshmi Bai too had stated then that the "Victim can approach the commission and we will protect her." But the commission which has the power to take suo motu cognisance of such cases, had failed to do so in this case. Umashree and Nagalakshmi Bai's silence on the issue can be attributed to their political affiliations but it also gives rise to questions whether they are doubting the credibility of the charges made by the victim. Either ways, the victim Vijayalakshmi seems to be waging a lone battle.

• meti sex cd
• vijayalakshmi
• umashree
• nagalakshmi bai
• karnataka