Activists display placards during a protest over the Varnika Kundu stalking case in Chandigarh on Wednesday. The two accused were arrested on Thursday. Pic/PTI

I, like millions of other Indians, don't expect signs of empathy from politicians. This may come as a surprise to foreigners, who are unaware of the fact that our system is so broken that no one with integrity, education, or common sense stands a chance of winning an election unless he or she is backed by a political party with dubious sources of funds at its disposal. That is a topic for another day though. The reason I opened with that reference to a lack of empathy from people in power is what a minister from Haryana said a few days ago in the wake of the attempted kidnapping of a woman in a neighbouring city. 'What was she doing out so late, anyway?' he asked. 'Girls shouldn't be allowed to step out at those hours if they want to stay safe.' And no, he wasn't joking.