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| Indian rapper's new year gig cancelled in wake of Delhi bus rape | Indian rapper's new year gig cancelled in wake of Delhi bus rape |
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| A New Year's Eve party featuring an appearance by India's best known rapper has been cancelled after the star, Yo Yo Honey Singh, was accused of encouraging violence to women with his music. | A New Year's Eve party featuring an appearance by India's best known rapper has been cancelled after the star, Yo Yo Honey Singh, was accused of encouraging violence to women with his music. |
| Last weekend, a 23-year-old woman died of injuries sustained in a brutal gang rape on a bus in the Indian capital of Delhi on 16 December. | Last weekend, a 23-year-old woman died of injuries sustained in a brutal gang rape on a bus in the Indian capital of Delhi on 16 December. |
| The event has provoked outrage, grief and anger, much of it directed at authorities, and a fierce debate on the wave of sexual violence in the country. | The event has provoked outrage, grief and anger, much of it directed at authorities, and a fierce debate on the wave of sexual violence in the country. |
| Organisers halted the event featuring the rapper, who is known for the 2006 song Choot (which means pussy), hours before it was due to start after a concerted social media campaign and calls from leading media personalities. Up to 3,000 people had been expected to attend the £90-per-head evening. | Organisers halted the event featuring the rapper, who is known for the 2006 song Choot (which means pussy), hours before it was due to start after a concerted social media campaign and calls from leading media personalities. Up to 3,000 people had been expected to attend the £90-per-head evening. |
| "There is a line that has to be drawn with popular culture when it actively encourages violence," said Suhasini Haider, a well-known current affairs TV anchor. | "There is a line that has to be drawn with popular culture when it actively encourages violence," said Suhasini Haider, a well-known current affairs TV anchor. |
| Scores of other events have been cancelled. India's armed forces said no New Year's Eve parties and high-end club nights would be held, while politicians and ordinary Indians also called off celebrations as a mark of respect. Bollywood stars issued statements saying they were "not in the mood" for festivities. | Scores of other events have been cancelled. India's armed forces said no New Year's Eve parties and high-end club nights would be held, while politicians and ordinary Indians also called off celebrations as a mark of respect. Bollywood stars issued statements saying they were "not in the mood" for festivities. |
| The Press Club of India, the ruling Congress party and the Gymkhana Club, a private members' organisation known for its lavish end-of-year celebrations all cancelled parties. | The Press Club of India, the ruling Congress party and the Gymkhana Club, a private members' organisation known for its lavish end-of-year celebrations all cancelled parties. |
| There have been daily protests and vigils since the attack, with tens of thousands of people taking to the streets last weekend calling for new laws, police reform and wholesale changes in cultural attitudes. | There have been daily protests and vigils since the attack, with tens of thousands of people taking to the streets last weekend calling for new laws, police reform and wholesale changes in cultural attitudes. |
| Police detained five men and one teenager in connection with the crime, and are likely to press murder charges later this week. Prosecutors are expected to seek a death sentence for the adults. | Police detained five men and one teenager in connection with the crime, and are likely to press murder charges later this week. Prosecutors are expected to seek a death sentence for the adults. |
| Authorities have clamped down on demonstrations in the heart of Delhi, but hundreds of people gathered on Monday night and more events were planned across the city. | Authorities have clamped down on demonstrations in the heart of Delhi, but hundreds of people gathered on Monday night and more events were planned across the city. |
| Singh, 28, is a huge celebrity in India with a series of hits this year. He was recently reported to have received the biggest fee paid for a song recorded for a Bollywood film. His song Brown Rang, meaning brown skin, was the most-watched YouTube video of 2012 in India. | Singh, 28, is a huge celebrity in India with a series of hits this year. He was recently reported to have received the biggest fee paid for a song recorded for a Bollywood film. His song Brown Rang, meaning brown skin, was the most-watched YouTube video of 2012 in India. |
| Menaka Guruswamy, a supreme court lawyer who organised an online petition against the New Year's Eve event, told the Guardian that the "glorification of a kind of aggressive, violent masculinity" in Indian popular culture was one reason for the "pandemic of violence against women". | Menaka Guruswamy, a supreme court lawyer who organised an online petition against the New Year's Eve event, told the Guardian that the "glorification of a kind of aggressive, violent masculinity" in Indian popular culture was one reason for the "pandemic of violence against women". |
| "A gang rape is not an aberration, it is preceded by a long degradation ... and a vacuous, violent popular culture contributes to that," she said. | "A gang rape is not an aberration, it is preceded by a long degradation ... and a vacuous, violent popular culture contributes to that," she said. |
| One particular line from Choot has been the focus of much criticism. The singer says he will beat a woman with a shoe after sex. A first investigation report – the initial step of a criminal investigation – was filed by police in the northern city of Lucknow against Singh. It is unlikely that the procedure will result in an actual charge. | One particular line from Choot has been the focus of much criticism. The singer says he will beat a woman with a shoe after sex. A first investigation report – the initial step of a criminal investigation – was filed by police in the northern city of Lucknow against Singh. It is unlikely that the procedure will result in an actual charge. |
| A spokesman for Singh said the artist's work and views had been misrepresented. | A spokesman for Singh said the artist's work and views had been misrepresented. |
| Following the death of the victim of the gang rape last Friday night, Singh used Twitter to say the incident made him "ashamed to be an Indian where the biggest democracy in the world can't protect our women". In another post he called for solidarity against violence towards women and for the death sentence to be imposed on the six suspects. | Following the death of the victim of the gang rape last Friday night, Singh used Twitter to say the incident made him "ashamed to be an Indian where the biggest democracy in the world can't protect our women". In another post he called for solidarity against violence towards women and for the death sentence to be imposed on the six suspects. |
| Indian law permits capital punishment in the "rarest of the rare cases". | Indian law permits capital punishment in the "rarest of the rare cases". |
| The 16 December attack highlighted an epidemic of violence against women in India, where one rape is reported on average every 20 minutes. | The 16 December attack highlighted an epidemic of violence against women in India, where one rape is reported on average every 20 minutes. |
| "We are extremely concerned about the number of rape cases throughout India and the widespread pattern of violence against women," said Lise Grande, UN resident co-ordinator in India, the latest in a series of international voices to voice concern. "It is alarming that too many of these cases are children. One in three of the rape victims is a child," she added. | "We are extremely concerned about the number of rape cases throughout India and the widespread pattern of violence against women," said Lise Grande, UN resident co-ordinator in India, the latest in a series of international voices to voice concern. "It is alarming that too many of these cases are children. One in three of the rape victims is a child," she added. |
| Further rapes continue to be reported in the Indian press. The government has said it will bring forward legislation introducing fast-track courts for sexual offences, a public register of convicted offenders and increased penalties for rape. | Further rapes continue to be reported in the Indian press. The government has said it will bring forward legislation introducing fast-track courts for sexual offences, a public register of convicted offenders and increased penalties for rape. |