Under attack from Opposition for his “anti-women” views, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar defended his remark in which he had said that women filed rape cases after arguments with the accused.
Addressing a function in Panchkula district of the state, Khattar had on Friday, 16 November, said, "The incidents of rape have not increased... Rapes used to take place in the past and even today as well. (Only) the concern (over such incidents) has increased.”
Two days after making the comment, Khattar said on Sunday, 18 November: “I did not say it happened consensually, I said it happens between known people (the accused and the survivor).” The BJP leader also said that his remarks can be backed with “facts from investigation.”
“This should be dealt on a societal level and should not be looked at for political gains,” Khattar told reporters on Sunday.
"The biggest concern is that, in 80 to 90 percent of rape and eve-teasing cases the accused and the victim know each other. In many cases, they know each other for a long time and, on one day, when there is an argument (between them over some issue)... an FIR is lodged, saying: 'He has raped me'," Khattar had said.
This is not the first time that the Haryana Chief Minister made a controversial statement on rape.
‘Anti-Women Mindset Exposed’
Among the first ones to react to the comment was the Congress party, which condemned the statement, saying the state government's "anti-women mindset" was exposed.
Hitting out at the chief minister, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala termed the statement deplorable.
"Anti-Women Mindset of Khattar Govt Exposed! Haryana CM Khattar ji makes an utterly condemnable remark. Blaming Women for complete failures to control Rapes & Gangrapes? Deplorable!," Surjewala tweeted.
CM Saahib, You Are Justifying Rape: CM Kejriwal
Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also condemned Khattar’s remark in a tweet on Sunday, 18 November, and questioned safety of women in a state where the chief minister himself justifies rapes.
“How can girls be safe in a state where the state’s CM thinks like this? CM saahib, you are justifying rape. This is the reason why rapes are increasing in Haryana and the accused are not held, instead are roaming free,” CM Kejriwal tweeted.
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