The ghoonghat debate: Don't worry Haryana, we've got your betis covered

It was just a normal day. Muslims were getting lynched for train seats. They were also getting beaten up, their houses burned, because Holy Mother Cow had picked a spot outside their door to die.

This was, of course, years after a man lost his life for the mutton in his fridge.

We were glad to know that nothing had changed, and were going about with our work of daily outrage and planned protests.

And just like any other day, the Haryana government decided to send a simple, regular message.

Ghoongat ki aan-baan, mhare Haryana ki pehchan (the pride of the veil is the identity of my Haryana).

Move aside, 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao'. Keeping up with the times, the state wanted to make sure that its women were safe. How nice.

So how did they send this message out?

The March issue of Krishi Samvad, a supplement of the Haryana Samvad magazine, had the photo you see above. The words replete with a woman whose face is all covered up.

Haryana is a state where, despite decades of debilitating patriarchy, women are starting to find their own two feet, sans the ghoonghat, and winning a few accolades, a laurel or two. In a situation like this, it is only fair that the state does some gentle reminding – just in case the betis become too big for those new boots. After all, they just found their feet! Better safe than sorry, after all!

Ram Ram, Manohar Lal Khattarji. We've taken the message on board, and we've got them covered: