Women and Delhi’s public/private transport aren’t exactly the dream team. In 2012, it was a chartered bus and now, it is Delhi’s lifeline, the Delhi Metro. Considered to be one of the best modes of public transport in Delhi, where one can feel safe at any hour, Delhi Metro is allegedly still not safe for women. Safety in a city like Delhi is still a distant dream.
On Sunday, a BITS Pilani student took the Delhi metro and was heading home. It would have been a normal metro ride but it was not to be because of a man who started stalking her. An account of what transpired after that was not a normal metro ride but a harrowing experience that shook her to the core. She immediately shared her experience on Twitter in a series of 15 tweets as she was really ‘angry’ because she thinks ‘women deserve better’ and we cannot agree more:
1.
Hey ladies, you’re not safe at ALL in a metro or metro stations. I’ll tell you how.
— Megha (@Omeghaa_) May 28, 2017
2.
A man followed me in the metro today. Mind you, 20 mins back. That is 8 pm. On a Sunday. Pretty normal right?
— Megha (@Omeghaa_) May 28, 2017
3.
Stood near me in the metro on my route. Seemed pretty normal. A LOT of people take the same route. It’s not fair to pin point anyone.
— Megha (@Omeghaa_) May 28, 2017
4.
Got off at the Golt Course metro station. Stood nearby, while pretending to talk on the phone with somebody. I was waiting for parents.
— Megha (@Omeghaa_) May 28, 2017
5.
Tried to listen to my conversations with father to know where I was going. I sensed something was fishy and immidiately put on earphones
— Megha (@Omeghaa_) May 28, 2017
6.
And started talking silently in the mic. He starts circling me. I see my father arrive and I start walking down. Mind you, no security.
— Megha (@Omeghaa_) May 28, 2017
7.
I still don’t try to be unfair and test waters by stopping regularly at steps. He stops with me. I rush to the car and he tries to push me.
— Megha (@Omeghaa_) May 28, 2017
8.
Into a shady corner at the end of the staircase. I push him away, slap him.And make a LOT of noise. I ask him to stop and so I can catch him
— Megha (@Omeghaa_) May 28, 2017
9.
A security guard is happily talking to people near panwari while this happens. Nobody runs to catch him. None. Nada. Cipher.
— Megha (@Omeghaa_) May 28, 2017
10.
My father sees this. Gets out of the car and runs behind the man. Everybody enjoys the show. Happily and acts surprised. Mind you: only act.
— Megha (@Omeghaa_) May 28, 2017
11.
Funiest part: Guard comes to me and says ‘madame hume kyu ni bataya’. After I shouted my guts out. The audacity.
— Megha (@Omeghaa_) May 28, 2017
12.
Other people: Madame ye krtin, wo kartin.
You losers, when somebody attacks you: you can’t think. I did the best I could.
— Megha (@Omeghaa_) May 28, 2017
13.
Moved out of this city an year back. I thank my starts I did. This has been the first time I’ve taken a metro in last six months and I’m sad
— Megha (@Omeghaa_) May 28, 2017
14.
So yes, ladies. You’re not safe. Not even close. You’re on your own and there are creeps ready to grope you. Police and security mean shit.
— Megha (@Omeghaa_) May 28, 2017
15.
Be safe. Act fast. Worked for me. Have a strong personal space. Be very attentive of the people who cross the boundaries of it and act.
— Megha (@Omeghaa_) May 28, 2017
One of the Twitter users has tagged AAP government and Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal and even the Delhi Police in one of his tweets trying to draw his attention towards the issue but obviously, they must be pondering as to under whose jurisdiction does the case fall. Considering the incident took place in Noida, which is a part of Uttar Pradesh, their concerns are genuine only –as genuine as the concern of that security guard at the Golf Course Metro station, who walked upto Megha, after the entire incident.
