NEW DELHI: Bajrang Bagra, General Secretary of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), has appealed to apex bodies of trade and industry to ensure the safety and security of women working in the corporate sector. He made this appeal by writing letters to organisations such as FICCI, CII, ASSOCHAM, ICC, BCC, PHDCCI, and NASSCOM. He has urged the corporate world to lead the nation to new heights of development by fostering a safe and secure workplace environment for women.
Citing recent distressing developments at the TCS facility in Nashik, Bagra has appealed to industry associations to take immediate and appropriate action regarding the safety of women. He warned that if a lack of corrective measures is observed in the policies and implementation strategies of the corporate sector, the VHP would be compelled to resort to all available constitutional avenues. The VHP will maintain a vigil and impartial watch over such matters to monitor whether and to what extent appropriate steps are being taken.
He stated that the apex trade and industry bodies in India must pay serious attention to the highly sensitive issue of women’s safety in the workplace and should advise their member companies to take appropriate remedial measures. Drawing the attention of trade and industry organizations to the large-scale conspiracy involving religious conversions currently unfolding at TCS, Shri Bagra noted that certain male employees belonging to a specific religious community acting in the role of ‘predators’ have targeted not only female employees from other communities but male employees as well.
Shri Bajrang Bagra asserted that these are not isolated incidents of crimes committed by individual radicals; rather, they constitute a collective conspiracy that is premeditated, well-funded, and professionally guided. The preliminary evidence uncovered in the TCS, Nashik case points towards a suspected nexus between the accused personnel, religious radicals, and terrorists, as well as the potential involvement of foreign funding. Other cases are yet to be thoroughly investigated.
According to them, the investigation reveals that TCS HR officers provided patronage to the syndicates involved in these crimes. They ensured that male ‘predators’ were recruited and posted in locations where they could influence and exploit female employees. This exploitation was not limited merely to harassment; it also encompassed forced consumption of beef, rape, blackmail, and ultimately, forced religious conversion.
According to the VHP General Secretary, the complaints lodged by the victimized female employees were ignored. Rarely were their grievances addressed with the requisite seriousness or handled in an appropriate manner. TCS senior management failed completely in discharging its responsibility to provide a safe and secure workplace. Through its gross negligence and mismanagement, the management effectively became a silent accomplice in these crimes. Legal provisions pertaining to the prevention of sexual harassment of women in the workplace were violated on a massive scale.
Shri Bagra stated that the entire nation takes pride in the corporate sector, which has enhanced the country’s prestige by making immense contributions to economic growth and job creation. But at what cost! He expressed hope that the corporate leadership would recognize the gravity of this matter. This incident has shaken the public’s social trust in the corporate world regarding the safety of women in the workplace and the maintenance of social harmony within the nation.
He appealed to industry associations to advise their member firms and companies to exercise extreme vigilance when recruiting and appointing candidates belonging to a specific religious community. Shri Bagra asserted that, in light of the reprehensible events that transpired at TCS, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) expects all companies within the corporate sector to take immediate corrective measures—specifically by conducting a rigorous review of recruitment processes, particularly within their Human Resources departments. Shri Bagra clarified that the VHP does not believe that all members of any specific community are involved in such heinous crimes. However, the pattern and pervasiveness that have come to light certainly demand heightened caution and vigilance. According to him, continuous monitoring—spanning from the recruitment stage to placement—is absolutely essential to prevent the exploitation of female employees. If the corporate sector persists in adopting a lax or negligent attitude solely in the pursuit of economic gain, it will not only be detrimental to the interests of society and the nation but will also run counter to their own long-term interests. Such conduct is bound to erode the trust and faith that society places in them.
Shri Bagra further stated that the Vishwa Hindu Parishad remains steadfastly committed to safeguarding the interests of the nation, its culture, and the community. Such grave negligence, complicity, and lapses on the part of the corporate sector cannot be overlooked. The Parishad expects immediate and effective reforms in personnel policies, operational procedures and conduct.
