Vijaya Rahatkar at her office in Bandra

Silence is not golden when it comes to the Kathua and Unnao rape cases. With widespread outrage sweeping India and protests now morphing into shrill debates about whether the death penalty is enough to stop rape, (the President has signed the ordinance for death penalty for rape of children under 12) Maharashtra State Commission for Women (MSCW) chief Vijaya Rahatkar's silence, she also heads the Bharatiya Janta Party's (BJP) Mahila Morcha unit, has been deafening, disconcerting and disappointing. Protesters are determined that they will not let the silence from a select few wipe away Unnao and Kathua from the minds of the people.