The setting up of “anti-Romeo squads” was one of the election promises in Uttar Pradesh.
What is the purpose of these “squads”?
They were meant to curtail eve-teasing and provide greater security to women.
It is aimed at taking action against boys who are found outside girls’ colleges, and are involved in eveteasing and molesting girl students
But couples were stopped just for being spotted together, though the squad admittedly had no legal jurisdiction to stop them.
Why it is bad?
If the police can’t tell the difference between molesters and amicable couples, the squads disperse humiliation, extortion and violence on innocent young people in public places.
It violates citizens’ rights and dignity
It brings back medieval repressions especially at a time when walls between the genders are breaking.
They make it unsafe for women to step out with men of their choice, inhibit families and foist retrograde notions about the sexes meeting.
Earlier accusation of “love jihad” to describe mixed-religion marriages as was aggression targeted minorities. It included references to an incident of alleged abduction, gangrape and forced conversion of a Hindu girl to Islam in Kharkhoda area of Meerut.
The current move has expanded hatred towards all young people.
It is also against the concept of minimum government.
