Girls not safe in country: Kailash Satyarthi

NEW DELHI: Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi today said that girls were "not safe" in the country, and expressed deep concern over the recent incidents of rapes of minors in the national capital which he said stood out for the sheer "apathy".

The child rights activist wondered what moral argument can one give when girls are not safe in a society which also worships goddesses. "Where is the outcry?"

"What moral argument one can give that we are worshipping our goddesses and girls who are our living goddesses are not safe? Simply going to India Gate with candles won't do. This is unacceptable," he said.

Satyarthi also decried growing "intolerance" in the society.

"The girls are not safe, neither in their homes, nor in their schools nor in neighbourhoods or in police stations. I am not generalising but they feel frightened. Fear is something which is driving us and all the reactions, even all the creations are so reactive," Satyarthi said.

"Fear was a major driving force behind societal reactions to such instances of sexual violence," he said.

He was speaking on 'Dreams for a child friendly India' at the 21st Justice Sunanda Bhandare Memorial Lecture here.

Satyarthi, who was jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize with Pakistani teenage activist Malala Yousafzai, identified "fear, apathy and intolerance" as three enemies needed to be fought against for a child friendly society.

Supreme Court Judge T S Thakur, Delhi High Court Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Leila Seth were also present on the occasion.