#AintNoCinderella: Women respond to BJP leader's sexist remark on Chandigarh stalking case

Women in India are now using a social media hashtag to give a befitting reply to a BJP leader’s sexist remark that women should not loiter on the streets after midnight.

In the recent past, women have been constantly subjected to mockery and victim-shaming. The Chandigarh stalking incident highlighted the same regressive and misogynistic mindset that prevails in our country’s politicians who fail to find faults in their own characters.

The 4 August incident grabbed headlines when the accused Vikas Barala, son of Haryana BJP chief Subhash Barala, was out on bail despite the victim’s claim that he and his friend had attempted to kidnap her. Moreover, Haryana BJP’s deputy president Ramveer Bhatti was quick to ask why the victim was out on the streets when it was past midnight. Despite being heavily criticised, Bhatti continued to hop from news channel to news channel justifying why women need to “come home on time”.

Several women have since then joined the victim Varnika Kundu in her fight against the ridiculous remark, with #AintNoCinderella. Especially on Twitter, women are posting self-portraits of themselves being on the streets past midnight.

Dear Sanskari BJP, it's well past midnight n i'm out having beer in Delhi. Join me? #AintNoCinderella #ChandigarhStalking pic.twitter.com/jXj5piZUqz

— Ridhima Malhotra (@RidhimaInd) August 8, 2017

Oops 1.45am and I am out on Delhi Roads, In a short Dress 😱stop me if you can !!! #AintNoCinderella pic.twitter.com/P7PWQM487H

— Sana ☕️ (@farooquisana) August 7, 2017

If I'm out at 12am, it DOES NOT mean I'm to be raped, molested, chased. My dignity is my right 24X7 #AintNoCinderella pic.twitter.com/6SN0I5NbSN

— Sharmistha Mukherjee (@Sharmistha_GK) August 7, 2017

Dear regressive India,
I will do as I please, night or day. Don't ever think you have the right to stop me #AintNoCinderella pic.twitter.com/oHIKgbhoeA

— G (@spicesorceress) August 7, 2017

Hey it's midnight and I'm "out"!#AintNoCinderella pic.twitter.com/oKFNwtVIz0

— 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐤 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐚 (@Palaksharmanews) August 7, 2017

Dear Regressive India,
We ain't damsels in distress. We are independent & we don't need you to curb our freedom#AintNoCinderella here! pic.twitter.com/mulliSsKwY

— Rekha Navani (@rekha_navani) August 7, 2017

Hi to all regressive authorities, from a cab, past midnight, dressed like I'm going to a party, but I'm actually not. #AintNoCinderella pic.twitter.com/Dhrwflck9i

— Surekha Rao (@surerao) August 7, 2017

Guess what BJP, it's midnight and I'm outside and this party is rad. You want me to stay home to be safe, your bad. #AintNoCinderella pic.twitter.com/5x7UrDo0Ot

— Sharma Ji ki Beti (@PoorvaSharma_) August 7, 2017

12 years ago, it was okay for us girls to go to India Gate at midnight. Walk, eat ice cream. Where's that #Delhi gone? #AintNoCinderella

— Sharmila Bhowmick (@ShormiWrites) August 8, 2017

#AintNoCinderella
Sun maybe gone... but we are here to rise. :) #DontCurseDarkness pic.twitter.com/20eZCrqKFB

— Samyukta Hornad (@samyuktahornad) August 7, 2017

Who came up with — #AintNoCinderella? Badass! It's so sad that I can't tweet on this like all the women here. A big #ShoutOut to you all. 🙌

— Gaurav Pandhi (@GauravPandhi) August 7, 2017

I really love this trend. Beautiful women defying male patriarchy & crossing misogynist lines. More power to u ladies💪🙏#AintNoCinderella

— Sahil Prasad (@laxmi407) August 7, 2017

Turns out, women are sure they do not want to run home before midnight. Too bad for politicians, they don’t care about what BJP thinks.