"Women bus conductors would themselves be in danger from some of those who board the bus at night. This is a sad reality of India today that women are not safe," De said at Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival (AKLF) here.
As a fallout of the brutal Delhi gangrape incident inside a bus, suggestions have come up from various quarters to introduce women bus conductors.
"We need to understand as to why rapes are happening in our country. We need action from the legal process. Token action like introducing women conductors will not help," said the author who had written the script of the popular soap 'Swabhimaan' dealing with the struggle of a woman.
De demanded that new laws should be introduced in the country which protect women from not just rape but all kinds of atrocities, domestic violence in particular.
The author, whose latest novel 'Sethji' begins with the brutal rape of a student from North-East, regretted that incidents of rape remain a deep dark secret buried even inside the high society.
"Most of such cases go unreported and the women end up being silent about it. Rape is a universal problem and happens in all societies and class," said the socialite.
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When asked by reporters to comment on the debate of how women should dress up to avoid sexual assaults, De said clothing should be according to the occasion.
"I would not tell my daughter to go on the streets wearing a bikini. There is a context for everything and even for clothing and social behaviour. Everything has to be balanced. I am not in favour of any kind of extremism," said the author of books like 'Superstar India - From Incredible to Unstoppable'.