Mind your fashion couture, which is the key element attributed to atrocities against women, by the state Police Chief.  `Increase or decrease in rape cases could not be attributed to policing. Women in villages are turning fashionable, wearing salwar kameez which tends to provoke men,’ said Dinesh Reddy, DGP. This was in response to the Journalist query for reasons on the crime rate increase, on Friday at Hyderabad. Andhra Pradesh reported 1,291 rape cases till November this year against 1, 228 during the corresponding period last year and 1,147 in 2009.

The DGP's remark has provoked widespread outrage and condemnation from all quarters including the state Home Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy. The DGP’s statement was also severely condemned by none other than the Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram. He said `I strongly disagree with that statement. Everyone is entitled to dress the way he or she pleases as long as he or she has regards to the occasion, the place and the context. Obviously, you don't wear whole lot of clothes to play football or tennis and you don't wear swimwear and go to a cocktail party.’ The DGP's office has now issued a clarification saying DGP Reddy's comments were misinterpreted.

It is a `Sad controversy’ that should not have emerged in a country, where women are treated with equality (or at least we advocate for such things!!).  If our women are dressed according to the stipulated norms of the officials, then what about the foreign nationals who come to our country for education or tourism, should they also dress accordingly. Even visitors were pruned to rape and assault on various occasions in 2011.  Hence it is basically the police who have to control the crime rate and the people in general must control their beastly instincts. (AarKay)