Kopardi case: If culprits are not punished, women will be discouraged, says Rio Olympian Lalita Babar

Speaking to India Today, Lalita Babar said being a woman, she feels, the incident that happened in Kopardi is very sad and if such incidents keep on happening then women won't feel secured, it's very important that women feel that they are safe. "If the culprits are not punished, then women who want to excel in life, who are striving hard to create a niche for themselves in the main stream will be discouraged. Delayed justice in Kopardi case will mean the road ahead in life is very difficult. The girls who wish to move ahead won't do so," said Lalita.

RIO Olympian Lalita Babar was a part in the Maratha Kranti Silent Morcha in Pune. Lalita Babar said "I felt that the agitations are being carried out in such a peaceful manner, as I was in Pune I thought I should be a part of the Maratha Kranti Silent Protest March." The Rio Olympian was at the jam packed Khanduji Baba Chowk the point from where the silent protest started marching towards the council hall in the historic Pune city. Lalit shared that she too has faced problems while availing the benefits under caste reservation, she appealed to the state government to take positive steps towards the demand of give reservations not only to Maratha community over all to needy people.

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When asked what difference she experienced from international point of view, in getting sanctions , moving files from table to table in government machinery, Lalita was fast to answer that in sports, athletes rarely feel such treatment but in other fields such things keep on happening.

"MUST TREAT ALL EQUALLY"

Lalita Babar said everyone should be treated equally. "One treated with some level while other is looked upon with some other level is wrong, everyone should be treated equally, those who are moving ahead will surge ahead, but our country, our Maharashtra will be left behind," said Lalita. As an international athlete, I have experienced that India is far behind in international sports standards.

The Rio Olympian stated that women are excelling in all fields but still there is lot of injustice being done to women which is very sad. Recently whatever name and fame our country has got in sports is all due to the hard work of women of this country, so why are women always at the receiving end.

"CULPRITS SHOULD BE HANGED"

When asked what would she appeal to the government in the Kopardi case, Lalita demanded that the culprits should be hanged because if this doesn't happen then such cases will keep on happening. Capital punishment to the culprits responsible for the rape and murder will set an example of justice.

When asked if Marathas are coming in such large numbers and organizing morchas for their demands, won't it send a wrong message to other communities leading to polarization, Lalita said this should not happen, all communities should be treated equally and reservations should be given to the needy people in every community so that all get a chance to progress in life.