AIDWA strongly condemns the remark reportedly made by the Home Minister of MP, Shri Babulal Gaur on June 5th 2014, that “rape is a social crime which depends on the man and the woman; it is sometimes right and sometimes wrong;” and that “it is not possible for any Government to ensure that rape is not committed”.
These remarks by a BJP Minister belonging to the state with the highest number of rapes in the whole country (as per NCRB data 2013) indicates the total abdication of responsibility of the state in preventing crimes against women. Rather, the Minster’s attitude of shifting the blame to the victim is extremely reprehensible, as it provides justification to the perpetrator, and denies justice to the rape survivor. The Minister has further added insult to injury by suggesting that “unless the person wants, nobody can touch her” which shows callous indifference to the trauma suffered by the victims in such cases. If a person with such a mindset is allowed to continue in the Home Minister’s position, can women be safe and secure from sexual violence? AIDWA would like to point out that the accountability of the BJP Government in MP is at stake. We demand that the Justice Verma Committee recommendations be taken seriously by the BJP Government, and the newly amended anti rape law be effectively implemented, to provide justice to victims of sexual violence.
