Please don't blame me for the rape: Poonam Pandey

Poonam Pandey is appalled amused and annoyed by the suggestion that her provocative pictures on the internet and in magazines are responsible for the increase in crime against women. Says Poonam, “On Friday, the day after the heinous gang rape in Mumbai I was constantly badgered and persuaded to feel guilty about the crime. Apparently my pictures are responsible for crime against women. Ha ha, really? The same reasoning was used against me during the Nirbhaya case in Delhi. I want to ask all those people who find me provocative enough to induce crime, was there no crime against women before I arrived on the scene?” Poonam feels people need a scapegoat for their own failings. “Why blame me for social evils? I am just a girl trying to find my place in the world. I am used to being targeted by the moral police and the morcha wallis. When law and order fails the blame has to be pinned to some convenient target. But why blame me? What have I done? Main toh sirf baat karti hoon. Maine kuch kiya nahin. There are renowned respected actresses who heave and thrust in item songs. They are watched by a lot more men than I am.” However Poonam thinks rape has no connection with the pin-up provocateurs. “I don’t think men go out and commit crime against women because of what they see in films and in pictures. On the contrary I feel there would be far less crime against women if there would be more sexual gratification at home for men belonging to a certain class who don’t have direct and easy access to female company.” This is where Poonam feels the revival of the beer-bar culture does its bit. “I think re-opening the beer bars would reduce crime against women on the streets. Men would be able to have at least some access to erotic gratification.” Poonam objects strongly to the view that women invite unwanted attention by the way they dress. “Oh please! 5-year old girls get raped. Do they wear short skirts that provoke such crimes? It is ridiculous to suggest that rape can be prevented if women remain fully clothed.” In any case Poonam feels mainstream Hindi cinema has a lot to be answerable for. “I’ve seen them indulge in shameless sex talk where heroes are making pointed references to women’s body parts. What kind of example are these iconic stars setting? I’ve never posed nude. Even that picture that was posted of me nude after the PL victory was morphed. I even admitted that later at the risk of disappointing my fans. I’ve threatened to go nude. But have I really done it?”