Ordering Rape of Two Sisters, Its Shame... Shame

India was once more ashamed  after a village council in Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh ordered the  rape of two sisters. More shameful is that the 'Taliban' diktat of the village council, didn't shake the consciousness of  elderly people. How shameful it could have been for the village elderly to watch the rape of hapless girls? Village Councils are meant for protecting the honour of  its members, especially weaker sections. Aren't the lower castes Hindus and where are the so-called "Thekedar" of Hinduism? Why can't they face those out to destroy the very fabric of Indianness.  The unfortunate happenings  prove, we are the people with "convenient consciousness'. The incendiary  accusations first emerged last month, after online petition by Amnesty International seeking justice and protection for the low-caste sisters gathered over 260,000 signatures, mostly in Britain. . When the accusations first emerged last month, they spread like wildfire. The  allegations were contained in a petition to the Supreme Court filed last month by a lawyer for the Singh family seeking protection for the sisters. It said one of Singh's sons fell in love with a married woman of a higher caste, leading to a row between the two families. In its sensational claim, the petition  said Meenakshi Kumari, 23, and her 15-year-old sister fled their home after being handed over the punishment of stripping them naked and paraded with their faces blackened before being raped to atone for their brother's transgression. Now  controversial village council  has denied allegations. However, going by past record, village council or in some parts Khaps have been meting out rough justice on marriages, property related matters and women lib like how should they be dressed and   use of mobile. In rare cases, councils have ordered rape as punishment for violating  so-called 'local rules'. It is really difficult to confirm such unsavoury rulings for want of proof. In most cases, village councils or Khaps issue verbal diktats and no record of proceedings is kept. The present case appeared to be familiar narrative. In the absence of record, nothing can be proved and no one in the village will dare to speak against council for fear of being ostracized. The social ostracism is  the common punishment for going against village council. The  rough justice of non-elected village councils  is rural India's one of most tenacious problems. An deeply-entrenched hierarchy system built on  Hindu caste system  is colliding with modern values. India has a history of weak governance and increasing violence towards women. The present case is the ramification of our feudal past and botched-up present.  whatever has occurred, regardless of allegations being thrown back and forth that it's very important that the family is safe and the girls are safe. Unfortunately, the controversy has shifted the focus, perhaps unnecessarily, on whether the village council passed a brutal order rather than on a young couple facing social pressure because they belong to different castes. Its good to preserve customs and traditions but human values are more precious. Let us work for them.