Mass Molestation in Bangaluru and Delhi: Expression of the Criminal Character of the Lumpen Neo-Rich Class of Neoliberal India

Mass Molestation in Bangaluru and Delhi: Expression of the Criminal Character of the Lumpen Neo-Rich Class of Neoliberal India
We must rise up now, lest it will be too late!
Friends!
The cringeworthy incidents of mass molestation on the New Year's eve in Bangaluru and Delhi's Mukherji Nagar have shaken the very conscience of every thinking individual. Every sensitive person is outraged. These incidents have exposed the barbaric patriarchal mindset running through the veins of our society. These incidents have also revealed the double-faced character of the neoliberal, modern and "educated" neo-rich and upper middle classes of India. On the one hand, these classes possess all the clothes, shoes, cars and other consumer goods of the global brands, and on the other, we often see the glimpses of despotic, anti-democratic, anti-women, anti-worker character of these classes. However, the incidents of mass molestation on the eve of New Year in Bangaluru and Delhi and the attack on the Police when the Police tried to stop them has laid bare the criminal and lumpen character of this entire class in an unprecedented fashion.
The police administration has not been able to do anything substantial after these incidents. We can safely expect that nor will it be able to do anything in future as well. The reason being that on that fateful night the mob on the street was comprised of "spoilt brats" of well-to-do families, myriad kinds of wealthy middlemen, relatives of or members of the coteries of ministers-bureaucrats, big traders, rich property dealers, kulaks and rich farmers. Whenever workers or common youth, women, working class dalits take to streets for their just rights, the police wastes no time in attacking them with lathi-charge, tear gas, etc! Immediately, the batallions of CRPF and RAF are called in action and the state unleashes its terror on the struggling youth, women, workers and dalits. However, when progenies of the neo-rich run amock on the streets, try to pull girls off their scooties, molest them, then the Police pleads helplessness and even gets beaten up by them and runs away! Why? Because even the common constables of Police know that this criminal mob is comprised of brats of political leaders-ministers-bureaucrats or rich people having connections with them! That is why, the Police at most tries to make them "understand" and when they do not understand, then the Police itself "understands."
Friends! Comrades! It is essential to understand that these incidents are not exceptions. These incidents show the real character of this neo-rich class. This is the class which amassed a lot of wealth in the last three decades, that is, after the inauguration of the neo-liberal policies. It is overwhelmed by this windfall and intoxicated by this opulence. This neo-rich feel that they can buy anything with money. At the same time, the vulgar corporate capitalist culture which commodifies women has obliterated the difference between human beings and things for these neo-rich. For them, women are nothing more than a mass of flesh. Their heroes are sexist vulgar singers like Yo Yo Honey Singh, Badshah, etc who in their songs constantly metaphorise the body of women with different consumer goods like cars, etc. This only shows that for them women are nothing more than things to consume. This neo-rich class is brimming with a beast-like, fanatical and barbaric sense of entitlement. Under the spell of this sense, it feels that since it has money, it can get anything. This class represents the unholy alliance between Patriarchy and Capitalism in its most barbaric, aggressive and disgusting form. Undoubtedly, the patriarchal values are present in the working masses also and especially among the lumpen proletariat (that is, the proletariat bereft of class consciousness), lumpen lower middle class, the most despicable forms of this patriarchy can be seen. However, the life source of this patriarchy actually emanates from the political power and culture of the capitalist, especially, the neo-rich capitalist class. Needless to say, the values, traditions and culture of those who own media, education system, information system, will also dominate other classes of society, at least, till the time these other classes have a revolutionary cultural alternative. Moreover, the issue of Patriarchy is not simply an issue of mindset, culture and values-traditions. In fact, it is a political issue and is intricately linked with the question of political power! The present capitalist state system nurtures the patriarchy. Therefore, we can effectively fight against patriarchy only when we also fight against the entire present system which sustains it! Comrades, it is essential that we do not limit our struggle to the campus only! We must take it to all those neighbourhoods where the bastions of reaction are thriving and flourishing and win over our sisters, our comrades. We are not going to stay in the campus forever. In such a scenario, it would be suicidal to confine our struggle to the campus.
As far as the question of fighting today for our freedom, safety and dignity is concerned, these incidents have made this much certain : we cannot rely on the police administration in our fight against these criminal elements. When the police itself runs away from the scene, how can we trust it to protect us? We must mobilize and organize ourselves and fight for our freedom, safety and dignity ourselves! If we do not take this initiative today, it would become impossible for us to live freely, dress freely, eat and drink freely, choose our life-partner freely! We must take the decision today! Tomorrow will be too late! We propose that we organize a march as soon as possible and take out this march within the campus as well as the adjoining neighbourhoods and reclaim the public space! If we do not organize such a march in response to the incidents of New Year's eve, then these criminal degerates and misogynists will be encouraged. So - break the inertia, comrades! Unfetter yourself! If you think we must organize such a march, please call us immediately on the following numbers.
The age of darkness will give way, those who fight will own the day!
"Those who do not move, do not notice their chains." - Rosa Luxemburg

l University Community for Democracy and Equality (UCDE)
l Stree Mukti League

Contact : 9764594057, 9145332849, 9923547074  Email - ucde.mu@gmail.com
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