Kissed, groped, photo-shopped: Poll trials with Nagma, Gul Panag

Indian actress-turned-politician Nagma has now joined millions of other women who face sexual violence and violation of their bodies and personal space every day in India.

Nagma slapped a man who tried to grope her at a public meeting while she was campaigning for the 2014 for the upcoming general election in India as a Congress candidate.
 
Speaking to a news channel in India, Nagma said if such incidents take place again, she will not return to campaign.
 
The actress said that she has been harassed at every venue she has campaigned so far.

 
She has also reportedly hired bodyguards and bouncers to keep her safe during campaigns.
 
Before this incident, a video of Congress legislator Gajraj Singh was published by the Indian media, allegedly manhandling her at a public venue.

Nagma says she was taken aback when Sharma grabbed her and kissed in front of hundreds of people gathered. Nagma flung his hand off her and freed herself from his grip.

The video clips have since gone viral.

On the campaign trail, women candidates in India face not just political hostilities, but physical harassment, sexual slurs and advances.

Another actress-turned-politician BJP's candidate Hema Malini campaigns from inside her car.

She has been criticised for being sheltered and not reaching out to her electorate. But the actress refuses to get off her vehicle being fully aware of the crowd mentality.

Hema Malini, it seems, has learnt her lessons the hard way.

For women politicians it may not even be the crowd.

(Gul Panag: Twitter)

Former Miss Indian and actress Gul Panag, an AAP candidate, was photoshopped with a play-card of her party ‘placed strategically’.
 
Navneet Kaur-Rana, a south Indian actor and NCP candidate, filed a complaint of molestation against Shiv Sena candidate and Lok Sabha MP Anand Adsul.

Actresses have become a soft target for their public image and they come under the moral police scanner because of roles they portray in films.

Nagma's slap, may seem brave on television, but is no deterrent; the offender probably wears his punishment as his badge of honour.

Millions of women who gather at political rallies or who join politics probably need stronger action from the law.

And who better than aspiring Parliamentarians in India to make sure the law is sensitive to women?

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