Policemen dragging girls by their hair, a car over-turned and set on fire, barricades going up in flames - the protests in Delhi today were tarnished by displays of unrestrained excess by both demonstrators and the police in the heart of Delhi.
The protests were held to demand justice for a young girl gang-raped on a moving bus in Delhi exactly a week ago, and to call for more serious punishment for sexual crimes. Like yesterday, the demonstrations were infiltrated by rowdy men, and appropriated by right-wing groups and parties like Arvind Kejriwal's, adding a political dimension to a genuine civil society cry for change.
Some women complained of being molested during the protests, a harsh reinforcement of the fact that a protest for women's safety had been grossly hijacked.
"We tried stopping them. They were using abusive language. When we asked them to back off, they refused. We also requested them not to throw water bottles at the police. There are many of them who are drunk and are eve-teasing. They have come here just to have some fun," said young a woman at the protest site.
The government has failed to connect with protesters though at press conferences, ministers have assured the public that they share the people's outrage and grief and are introducing new measures to make women safer.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul this morning invited a group of protestors into her home and told them that they would ensure action is taken In the case of the six men who have been arrested for last week's gang-rape. The protesters said later they were disappointed that the leaders did not commit to any deadlines.
The four metro stations nearest to India Gate were closed today to prevent a repeat of yesterday's protests which resulted in clashes with the police. And though India Gate was declared off-limits in the morning for demonstrations, by 1 pm, the police unexpectedly relented, and a couple of hours later, the violence began with wooden benches used for spectators on Republic Day set on fire.
At 5 pm, the police asked protestors to go home.
"Public's anger has been hijacked by hooligans who want to break the law...all demands of the people have been met with...we request them to maintain peace...what is the reason behind this lawlessness now," said Dharmendra Kumar, Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), Delhi Police.
The government's failure to gauge the mood of the people and its unwillingness to engage with demonstrators has sharpened the fury and frustration of a country that is seeking urgent change in laws and safety, not just reassurances uttered from a distance and conveyed via cameras and reporters at press briefings.
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