Union minister Maneka Gandhi said that hostels should have an early curfew as youngsters are “hormonally challenged” and to protect them from such hormonal outbursts, a “lakshman rekha” needs to be drawn. These remarks are outrageous and most unpalatable as we live in a democracy with fundamental freedom to people to decide what they want. The remark that the hostels should draw a `lakshman rekha’ for youngsters as they are hormonally challenged is difficult to digest. Are we trying to become like the muslims countries where the women are given a list of dos and donts and what is this talk of women’s safety against their own hormonal outbursts?

The Union Minister for Women and Child Development has been taking the role of moral police when she says, “as a parent who’s sending a daughter to a college, or a son, I would expect him and her to be protected. And perhaps, one of the protections is against themselves. When you are 16 or 17, you are hormonally challenged. So, to protect you from your own hormonal outbursts, perhaps a `lakshman rekha’ is drawn. It is really for your own safety. Isn’t it ironical that this was said in an interview on the occasion of International Women’s Day.

Isn’t it a denial of full life to women? Actually, the minister should know what would be the safest? Lock hormonal men in, instead of denying women the right to lead a full life. This is the same person who wants the stray dogs to roam free in Kerala but wants to lock up women with curfews.

The twitter ti has been very active on this with a stream of reactions. While one exclaimed, “extremely regressive mindset there”, the other said “extremely regressive mindset”” of RSS old guards of morality”.

As one anonymous tweet said, “another bigotic and fundamentalist outburst”? Utter failure in providing security to the vulnerable ones, they are advocating their very imprisonment? What else can be expected of vandalism-supporting mindsets! If only there were a mandatory mental-health checkup of all our politicians”!

Isn’t it denial of full life to women? ironical as it was given on the occassion of International Women’s day. Actually, the minister should know that would be the safest? Lock hormonal men in, instead of denying women the right to lead a full life. This is the same person who wants the stray dogs to roam free in Kerala but wants to lock up women with curfews.

Unfortunately, Maneka Gandhi is the same person who has made significant strides towards gender equality. She also announced setting up of a compensation fund under the Nirbhaya scheme to provide help to children who are victims of sexual assault. And now to come up with this statement?