tniNEW DELHI: In 2007, I sat in shock as news of Benazir Bhuttoโs assassination flashed across my television
screen. As an 11-year-old, I struggled to comprehend how one of South Asiaโs most
formidable leaders, the first woman to head a democratic government in a Muslim-majority
country could be brutally murdered in broad daylight. It wasnโt just an attack on an
individual, it was a chilling message to women in power everywhere.
Closer to home, India has witnessed its own tragedies. Indira Gandhi, the Iron Lady of
India, was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards in the aftermath of Operation Bluestar.
Beyond political motivations, gendered hate played a significant role in the relentless
vilification she endured throughout her career. Decades later, Mayawati, Indiaโs first Dalit
woman Chief Minister, barely escaped an attempted lynching at the Lucknow State Guest
House in 1995 , a grim reminder that women in politics remain vulnerable to physical and
psychological violence, no matter their stature.
But violence against women in politics is not always as visible as assassinations or physical
attacks. It is systemic, insidious, and deeply entrenched in the very structures meant to uphold
democracy. Political violence against women manifests in many forms, threats, harassment,
character assassination, and even digital abuse, all aimed at discouraging their participation in
political life.
The Relentless Attacks on Women in Politics
Today, prominent Indian women politicians like Mahua Moitra, Priyanka Chaturvedi, Smriti
Irani, Nusrat Jahan, Alka Lamba, Swati Maliwal, Shazia Ilmi, Atishi, and countless others
face relentless attacks both online and offline. Their gender, caste, religion, and social status
often determine the kind of abuse they endure. Dalit, Bahujan, Adivasi, and Muslim women
in politics are particularly targeted with casteist and communal slurs, reinforcing deep-rooted
hierarchies that seek to silence them.
Chandrani Murmu, the youngest-ever Lok Sabha MP from Odisha, experienced this
firsthand. At just 25, she was subjected to a vile campaign of digital violence when a
morphed video of hers was deliberately circulated on social media. It was more than an
attempt to humiliate her, it was a calculated warning to other young women who dared to
enter politics.
Online harassment has become one of the most powerful tools to discredit and silence women
in politics. A 2020 report by Amnesty India revealed that Indian women politicians face
significantly higher levels of abuse on social media than their counterparts in the U.S. or the
U.K. Alarmingly, one in seven tweets directed at them is problematic or abusive. The study
found that online abuse in English declined during election periods, but abuse in Hindi
remained consistently high, likely due to Twitterโs selective moderation policies. The
message is clear: when women enter politics, their safety both physical and digital is
immediately compromised.
The Systemic Barriers Women Face
Violence against women in politics is not just about individual attacks; it is about a system
that discourages and punishes their participation. A 2014 UN Woman Study on violence
against women in India, Pakistan, and Nepal found that first-generation women in politics
face multiple forms of discrimination, not just from their political opponents but from within
their own parties, families, law enforcement, and society at large.
Despite the 33% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions since 1992, women
sarpanches and grassroots leaders continue to face relentless political violence. Deep-seated
feudal mindsets resist their leadership, treating them as mere figureheads while male relatives
hold real power. Women in these positions are routinely undermined, threatened, and even
physically assaulted for daring to lead.
Beyond violence, women face other systemic barrier like the lack of mentorship and
political backing where many women struggle to sustain political careers due to the absence
of strong networks and support systems. There are also financial constraints as politics
remains a male-dominated and financially demanding space, making it difficult for women,
especially those from ordinary backgrounds, to compete. Under political tokenism, women
are often reduced to symbolic roles, with real decision-making power remaining in the hands
of male leaders acting as their proxies.
Political Apathy and Complicity
Despite the glaring evidence, political parties remain largely indifferent to the plight of
women in politics. When female leaders face violence, they are often left to fend for
themselves. The lack of unequivocal condemnation from political parties emboldens
perpetrators and signals that womenโs safety is not a priority.
Moreover, the uncomfortable issue of sexual exploitation within party ranks remains largely
unaddressed. Many young women in politics have spoken about the toxic culture of senior
leaders grooming female party workers, yet these allegations are often brushed under the rug.
Political parties must confront this issue head-on and establish internal grievance mechanisms
to protect women in their ranks.
What Needs to Change?
The time for silence is over. Political parties, civil society, and tech companies must take
decisive action to address gendered violence in politics. Hereโs how:
1. Strengthening Laws and Accountability
โข India must introduce strong legal frameworks, similar to the UKโs Online Safety Act, to
criminalize online harassment against women politicians.
โข Clear and stringent disciplinary measures should be enforced against those who engage
in political violence, ensuring real consequences for perpetrators.
2. Political Reforms and Collective Action
โข Political parties must set up effective redressal mechanisms to support women facing
harassment.
โข Women politicians, regardless of party affiliation, must unite to form a strong womenโs
caucus that fights for their collective safety and rights.
3. Holding Big Tech Accountable
โข Social media platforms like Meta and X (formerly Twitter) must implement robust realtime
reporting mechanisms for political figures facing abuse.
โข AI-driven moderation must be strengthened, particularly in regional languages, to
combat gendered abuse online.
4. Changing the Political Culture
โข Male politicians must step up as allies, speaking out against violence and discrimination
within their own parties.
โข Society must challenge the normalization of political violence against women, pushing
for a cultural shift that values inclusivity and equal representation.
A Democracy Without Fear
Violence against women in politics is not just a gendered issue, it is a democratic crisis. If
half the population is deterred from participating in governance due to fear, democracy itself
is weakened. The choice before us is clear: either we act now to create a political landscape
where women can lead without fear, or we allow democracy to erode under the weight of
exclusion and injustice. The time for action is not tomorrow, not next election season, but
today.
Women in politics are not asking for protection; they are demanding what is rightfully
theirsโa political space free from violence and intimidation. Will we stand with them,
or will we continue to watch from the sidelines?
