Bhubaneswar: Motorcyclists’ groups Biking Community of India and Odisha Bikerni are to take out a nationwide bike rally August 5 titled ‘Ride Against Molestation’. The motto of the ride is: ‘No More Molestation In My City. I Demand To Live With Dignity’. “The rally is being organised to create awareness against molestation of women and to educate victims and by-standers to raise their voices against such acts,” Sangita Sahoo, member of Odisha Bikerni, said.
Besides Odisha Bikerni, groups such as Biking Republic of Odisha (BPO), Kalinga Motor Sports Club and #S Riders are participating in the rally.
“Ride Against Molestation is not just a caption; it is an initiative by the entire riding community that we won’t tolerate this anymore. Molestation is not just a heinous crime; it is an unacceptable act by any human standards. We all must support this noble cause and ride together,” Sangita said.
Barsha Priyambada, another member of Odisha Bikerni, said the group wanted to raise its voice for women’s safety through the rally. “Recently a video released on social media showed youths molesting girls during the car festival of Devi Subhadra at Baripada. In another case four youths allegedly molested the minor girl after beating up her male companion during a picnic to a tourist spot in Keonjhar. After overpowering her friend, they forcibly dragged her to a deserted spot and molested her there. They also videographed the act on their phones and uploaded the videos on social media. The incident shows the dismal security for women,” Barsha said. She added that before the rally the group had conducted camps at the school for creating awareness among students about the things to be aware of in identifying molestation and to be alert against it.
The rally is slated to start from near Hotel Sandy tower at Jaydev Vihar at 6:30 am August 5. It will pass via Acharya Vihar, AG square and Kalinga Hospital before ending the rally near Sandy’s Tower. The rally will also be organised in 19 other cities across the country.