No-single-women policy in Gurugram’s MG Road pubs is ‘bizarre and primitive’

Primitive, unbelievable and intimidating, is how Gurugram women are reacting to the ‘no-single women policy’ by pubs and night club owners at MG road.

That Gurugram’s MG Road is no stranger to immoral solicitation practices was heard of. But that its nightclubs
and pubs would ban entry of single women, after the police conducted raids on July 3 to check alleged solicitation and immoral trafficking, has come as a big shock to the ladies.Most clubs and pubs are not granting access to women unless they are accompanied by their husbands, and are able to provide proof of marriage.

Single women are being denied entry into pubs and nightclubs on MG Road in Gurugram after the police conducted raids in the area on July 3 to check alleged solicitation and immoral trafficking.(Shivam Saxena/HT)

Fearing being seen as suspects, a club owner told HT, “[The cops] will raid, and book us for immoral trafficking”. They claim “there are strict directions from the police to deny entry to single women”. However, Commissioner of Gurugram Police, KK Rao denies passing any such order. We speak to women in the city.

READ| No entry, clubs on Gurugram’s MG Road tell single women

‘Women have been molested even when accompanied by men’

“This is unbelievably primitive! We talk about women empowerment, and this is how we are getting supported? Just because the law and order is unable to control these crimes, they are asking women to move around with men? More so, should single women now mourn that we aren’t married as yet? There have been instances on MG Road where women have been molested even when accompanied by men. How is the police protecting women?” says, Divya Bhargava, Associate director at a business firm in the city.

‘Need strict actions taken by the government or the police’

“What if I want to throw or attend a party there? I’ve lived near the MG Road malls for two years, and shifted out because my family felt the area was unsafe. There should be strict actions taken by the government or the police to keep a tab on illegal activities, instead of imposing bans that say, ‘Single women can’t enter’. Also, would a woman really be safe if she is accompanied with her husband, going by the current situation of trafficking or sex crimes?” says, Bhawna Sharma,a corporate and ex-resident of MG Road.

‘How is partying with husbands any safer for women?’

Shivani Kaushik, student and MG road resident, says, “I’m a 20-year-old woman who chooses to go clubbing at night with family or friends. I can’t visit a pub alone? That’s bizarre! The clubs can’t discriminate like this. And how is partying with husbands any safer for women? There have been incidents where people have molested and raped women in front of their partners. In any case, it’s the crime that needs to be curbed not the freedom of women in any way.”

‘Immature decision-making by bar owners’

“This diktat is illogical. How is having a man along going to curb the real problem? There are many single women who have relocated from another city to Gurugram for better work opportunities. Some stay alone and can’t always have a man accompanying them. Rather than making such vague rules, the bars need to take corrective steps and be more alert. Denying entry to single women is not the solution. This is just illogical and immature decision-making by bar owners,” says Neha Tyagi, a Gurugram resident.

‘Entry should be denied to those misusing the venues’

“Barring entry of single women is not right. I don’t visit these pubs [on MG Road] because of safety concerns. Bad practices are often reported there. In fact, I don’t even walk alone on that stretch. I usually visit Sector 29 [to party]. But if at all entry has to be denied to someone, then it should be for those misusing the venues, and not just all the single women,” says Navalpreet Kaur, Credit manager and resident of MG Road.

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