As outrage over the horrific rape incident in Delhi brings people together from across barriers of gender and social class, I am compelled to wonder if this too will soon peter out, reducing the case to yet another figure in a long list. Or will this case have a lasting impact on the elected representatives of our country? Even as the women MPs appeared shaken and disturbed by the gruesome crimes against women and made emotional appeals for stronger laws in the House, their vehemence does nothing to dismiss the fact that this is a House that hasn’t passed the Women’s Reservation Bill till date.

If women are indeed 50 per cent of the population, why aren’t they recognised as the vote bank, the only language that politicians seem to understand?