Congress MLA's remark on prostitution: Women's group demands apology

The group has lodged a complaint against Congress leader Aslam Shaikh, who recently told the assembly that prostitution has become a nuisance in Malwani

Congress MLA Aslam Shaikh's remark on prostitution, recently made in the assembly, has drawn the ire of a woman's group. It has demanded that the politician apologise for his "derogatory" comment. The Malad MLA is, however, far from being contrite.

Malad MLA  Aslam Shaikh

Shaikh had on July 22 said in the assembly that prostitution is rampant in Malwani.

"He said prostitutes stand near bus stops and other public spaces, causing inconvenience to the 'normal' public. How dare he speak about Malwani women like that? If it's such a big problem, why does he, being an MLA, not solve it? Why talk about them in such a derogatory manner," asked a fuming Sultana Sheikh, vice-president of Mumbai Mahila Bachao Morcha, the BJP-backed group that filed a complaint against Aslam at the Malwani police station on Monday.

The organisation has given him 24 hours to tender an apology, failing which it plans to start a morcha in front of the police station.

'Go to Kamathipura'
A defensive Shaikh surmised that the organisation wants prostitution legalised. "In our culture, this kind of indecent behaviour will not be tolerated. And I know it is a debatable matter. I am not against the profession as such. They are supposed to be in places like Kamathipura and not in public places. This way, the safety of other women is being jeopardised," he said, adding that he has been complaining to the police for the past year, but "I have not seen any strict action being taken".

Giving weight to his claims, the women's cell of St. Anthony's church, said locals often cannot differentiate between sex workers and other women. "Recently, I was coming out of the church with a friend when a guy came up to me and asked my 'price'," said Jill D'Souza, a member of the women's cell.

To tackle prostitution, a police inspector suggested that the government come up with a plan that is more humane, rather than putting sex workers behind bars. "No doubt, prostitution is an anti-social activity, but the women have not come here for fun," he said.

'Drug abuse aided by Shakih'
Malwani has also had a thriving drug abuse problem for years and the Mumbai Mahila Bachao Morcha alleged that it has taken on monstrous proportions with Shaikh's blessings. "We try to stop youngsters when we see them sniffing drugs and at times, warn them of police action. They, in turn, retort, 'Bhai dekh lega' (referring to Shaikh)," said Namrata Singh, resident of Malwani and vice-president of the Morcha.

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