Ex Miss Mumbai, model and choreographer – Nisha Harale Bedi – is one unhappy lady! Unhappy because of the recent targeting of the youth by the police and the government. First they raised the age of drinking alcohol to 25 years of age (you can vote, get married and have sex but you cannot drink), then they targeted revelers at a Rave party and the final nail in the coffin was busting a pub where college kids were dancing in an alleged “indecent” matter.
These incidents which happened in close succession have got Nisha and her party-hearty friends all wound up. “
Dancing is not a crime and Psy music is my choice. It’s sad how people who love Psy music have been portrayed to look like criminals. It’s sad how music – which once brought everyone together – has now created fear in everyone’s heart. The basic freedom we so proudly talk about and stand for has been taken away from us and proven time and time again that “it’s no more our’s“. We are not here to fight against the system we are standing up and fighting for what truly is ours – our Human Rights” – she says with fire in her voice.
“Dancing is a form of expression and music is purely a channel that lets me express. So why am I been put to test, taken away from my human rights, strip checked? I totally agree that one must stay away from the harmful substance called Drugs and we all are aware on how it goes hand in glove with terrorism. Educating people is important and let’s accept the fact that consumers are victims and they need counseling, not jail bars,” she adds.
“Since 2007 and up till 2011 we have heard of party raids and what ill treatment one is subjected to when busted at these parties. It’s scary to hear so many talk about how they were kept for hours together in a police van, taken to police stations and kept for hours waiting there in fear. How so many were beaten up, how deejay’s were put behind bars. Blood and urine samples taken were swapped and needles used to draw blood were being questioned. Personally, I was strip-checked and it felt like being raped,” says Nisha.
This high-handedness has made her and her like-minded friends come together this Sunday to plan a Rave Against Corruption in the near future – a RAVEolution! A lawyer and senior members of the police force will also be present at the meeting.
As yet, the venue has not yet been fixed. But those interested in attending the meet can send a message to Nisha on Facebook.
Some of the questions the lawyers and police will be asked include:
1) Can one not organize musical/dance parties?
2) Outdoor parties from my knowledge are allowed with permissions taken, so where does one go wrong?
3) Can urine be taken and can needles be put up in anyone’s vein for blood test without a warrant or permission?
4)l media shows the raid why don’t they show the harsh treatment that the revelers get after being rounded up?
5) Can we not party or is it a crime?
6) Psy is a form of music just like hip hop, bollywood and rock than why is only the electronic generation being targeted?
7) Once arrested why are people not allowed to make calls and why are they kept in such horrible situations without food and water for hours
8) why are deejay’s and organizers being ill treated so badly?
9) What clearly are the rules? With all the bust-ups of outdoor and indoor parties, can one trust any organization or have the right to dance with freedom?