Rape is one of the most common crimes against women in India and abroad. One such bizarre incident took place on December 16, 2012, when a 23-year old student who was travelling with her male friend was raped and beaten with an iron rod in a moving bus in Delhi. The same rod was used to penetrate the girl so harshly that her intestines had to be surgically removed before her death. She succumbed to injuries 13 days later.
The incident led to wide scale protests across India. Nevertheless, rape occurrences have not stopped. What’s more bizarre is that some politicians have given absurd statements about the crime. Most Indian politicians believe that everything that is happening is the fault of Indian women.
Read on to know their bizarre statements on the worst crime against women.
Ranjit Sinha, Former Chief of Central Bureau of Investigation
According to Hindustan Times, CBI Former Chief Ranjit Sinha said, “If you can’t prevent rape, enjoy it.”
Botsa Satyanarayana, Congress
According to Times Of India report, the politician from Andhra Pradesh Botsa Satyanarayana said, “Just because the country attained independence at midnight, is it proper for women moving at midnight?”
Om Prakash Chautala, former Haryana CM
“Child marriage is a solution to rape and other atrocities against women,” ex-Haryana CM said according to Times Of India report.
Asaram Bapu
“The victim is as guilty as her rapists. … She should have called the culprits brothers and begged before them to stop,” said self-styled godman Asaram Babu according to The Economic Times report.
Kailash Vijayvargiya, BJP leader
“If the limit of morality is crossed by women, such cases will happen,” national BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya had once said, according to BBC News report.
Dr G Parameshwara, Former Karnataka Home Minister
According to Financial Express report, Dr G Parameshwara, former Karnataka Home Minister, had said, “Unfortunately, what is happening is a large number of youngsters gather on days like New Year on Brigade Road, Commercial Street, M.G. Road. Youngsters who are almost like Westerners, try to copy Westerners not only in mindset but even the dressing. So some disturbance, some girls are harassed, these kinds of things do happen.”
Dharamveer Goyat, Haryana Congress leader
According to NEWS18 report, Dharamveer Goyat said, “I have no hesitation in saying that about 90% of the girls consensually go with men and become targets of rape.” He later clarified saying that he had no intention to criticise women.
K Sudhakaran, Congress leader from Kerala
“The difference between rape and prostitution has to be defined clearly. It is the necessity of the society,” according to India Today report.
Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal CM
“Rape cases are on a rise in the country because men and women interact with each other more freely now,” Mamata Banerjee said according to India Times report.
Abu Azmi, Samajwadi Party
According to The Hindu report, Abu Azmi said, “You have to keep petrol away from the fire. And if there is sugar, ants will come automatically to it.”
He also said, “If a woman is caught (in a rape case), then both she and the boy should be punished. In India, there is a death penalty for rape, but when there’s consensual sex outside marriage, there’s no death penalty against women.”
Sheila Dixit, Congress party
According to The Hindu report, Sheila Dixit on the murder of journalist Soumya Viswanathan said, “One should not be so adventurous … being a woman.”
Mulayam Singh Yadav, Samajvadi Party
According to Indian Express, “Boys are boys, they make mistakes”, said Mulayam Singh Yadav.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat
According to NDTV report, Bhagwat said, “Crimes against women happening in urban India are shameful. It is a dangerous trend. But such crimes won’t happen in ‘Bharat’ or the rural areas of the country. You go to villages and forests of the country and there will be no such incidents of gang-rape or sex crimes.Where ‘Bharat’ becomes ‘India’ with the influence of western culture, these type of incidents happen. The actual Indian values and culture should be established at every stratum of society where women are treated as mother.”
Sube Singh Samain, Haryana Khap Panchayat
According to Free Press Journal, he said, “Girls should be married at 16, so that they have their husbands for their sexual needs, and don’t need to go elsewhere.”
Karnataka’s Former Home Minister K J George
According to The Indian Express report, Karnataka’s Former Home Minister K J George said, “How can you say gang rape? Gangrape means four-five people.” He later apologised for his statement.
