Poonam Pandey: Never reproach me for rapes

Model Poonam Pandey is aghasted, horribled and annoyed when she heard that she should beresponsible for the increase in crimes against women due to her provocative pictures on the internet and in magazines.

Poonam, who currently made her Bollywood debut “Nasha”, says she was “constantly badgered and persuaded to feel guilty about the crime” a day after the gang-rape of a photojournalist here last week.

“Apparently my pictures are responsible for crime against women. Ha ha, really? The same reasoning was used against me during the Nirbhaya case in Delhi. I want to ask all those people who find me provocative enough to induce crime, was there no crime against women before I arrived on the scene,” said Poonam.
She confirms that people are always trying to find a scapegoat after they made a mistake.
“Why blame me for social evils? I am just a girl trying to find my place in the world. I’m used to being targeted by the moral police and the morcha-wallis. When law and order fails, the blame has to be pinned to some convenient target. But why blame me? What have I done?” she asked.

“Main toh sirf baat karti hoon. Maine kuch kiya nahin ((I only talk. I haven’t done anything). There are renowned respected actresses who heave and thrust in item songs. They are watched by a lot more men than I am,” she added.

Poonam believes that rape has no relationwith the pin-up provocateurs.

“I don’t think men go out and commit crime against women because of what they see in films and in pictures. On the contrary, I feel there would be far less crime against women if there would be more sexual gratification at home for men belonging to a certain class, who don’t have direct and easy access to female company,” she said.

In addition, Poonam personally thinks the revival of the beer bar culture should do its bit.

“I think re-opening the beer bars would reduce crime against women on the streets. Men would be able to have at least some access to erotic gratification,” said the model.

Poonam is strongly against about the view that women invite unnecessary attention by the way they dress.

“Oh please! Five-year-old girls get raped. Do they wear short skirts that provoke such crimes? It is ridiculous to suggest that rape can be prevented if women remain fully clothed,” she said.

Anyway, Poonam feels mainstream Hindi cinema has a lot to be accountable for.
“I’ve seen them indulge in shameless sex talk where heroes are making pointed references to women’s body parts. What kind of example are these iconic stars setting,” she asked.

Poonam had first paid attention during the 2011 Cricket World Cup when she offered to go nude before Team India if they won.

Though she didn’t keep up to her word, her nude photograph was posted on Twitter in 2012. Nevertheless, she has clarified that it was morphed.

“I’ve never posed nude. Even that picture that was posted of me nude after the Indian Premier League (IPL) victory (of Kolkata Knight Riders) was morphed. I even admitted that later at the risk of disappointing my fans. I’ve threatened to go nude. But have I really done it?”