DNA Micro Edit: Do only rapes in Delhi qualify for our outrage?

It had all the elements that qualify for outrage – barbarity, brutality, cruelty, bestiality and, of course, rape. Yet, three days after the horrific gang-rape of a young woman in Sonepat, a mere 43 km from Delhi, came to light, there is not a voice of protest anywhere. Why? Because it lacked a very vital angle for voices to be raised – Delhi. It should have happened in the capital to shake the conscience of the nation.

Since the victim belonged to a city of a neighbouring state, the silence on social media, the lack of anger which otherwise pours on to the streets of the national capital in the form of candlelight marches, is shocking. It is astounding to see the sheer hypocrisy of when to stand with a cause, and when not.

While Nirbhaya drew the world's attention, this girl, unfortunately, has been pushed away as another statistic, even though her death was as gory as the December 2013 incident, if not less.

Does it mean that to get justice, to garner support, and to wake up people from their slumber, one has to be a rape victim in Delhi? If one fails to be part of the NCR, does she not merit justice, not even a single hashtag or Facebook post screaming for the perpetrators to be hanged? Why hasn't there been a single candlelight vigil or panning of the police for unsafe cities? Why are we not seething with anger over the Rohtak rape? This speaks of how fickle we are towards matters like these. One day we are champions of women's rights but a few years later, nothing moves us. Or is our fury is based on convenience, with location playing a strategic role?