Describing SP leader Mulayam Singh Yadav’s likening rape as “a mistake by boys” as “abhorrent and shocking” , the BJP on Friday said it gives a “very wrong message” in a State where crime against women is not adequately reported and dared the Congress to come clear on the statement made by one of UPA’s supporting party.
The party has said that the SP chief’s statement has demeaned women in general. In a controversial statement, the SP leader on Thursday questioned the death penalty for rape, saying “mistakes” by boys happen sometime.
“BJP strongly condemns the statement made by Yadav on women, on rape-related matter and on his suggestion that if by chance he becomes part of the Government in 2014, he would make sure that the rape law would be amended,” BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said here.
Mulayam Singh’s view is absolutely abhorrent and shocking, she added.
Some of the senior SP leaders including its Cabinet Minster Azam Khan are known for making sexiest comments against women in the past.
“Years back, Shivpal Yadav, State Minister and brother of SP Chief, had made light of ghastly rapes of children in Nithari rape-murder cases in Noida in UP, by saying that such incidents were not of much of consequence “as they happen as a matter of routine.”
Taking on Congress, the BJP spokesperson said, “Congress should come out on this. Are they supporting Mulayam Singh YadavIJ”
“Where is the Congress party on this matterIJ she asked and added, “After all a friendly party, SP and its chief has spoken like this, where are you allIJ”
Hitting out at the duplicity of National Commission for Women and Congress, Sitharaman said, “NCW, which jumps in, of late on matters which do not have very serious implication, is remaining silent.”
“BJP demands that the country stand up against this kind of oppressive statement being made by a party which is in power, which gives a very negative message in a country which is struggling to come out of situation that the women need more protection and empowerment.”
“At a time when his government led by his son Akhilesh Yadav is failing repeatedly to protect women in UP, chief of that party and a former Union Minister says that he would amend the law to dilute the seriousness is shocking,” she said.
She said even to suggest that women, who lodge false complaints, would be punished gives a very very wrong message in a state where crimes against women, violence against women are not adequately reported.
later, Senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu took a jibe at Yadav saying the SP supreme does not think what the world thinks.
While Yadav saying “no Capital punishment” in rape, other SP leaders saying
it should be awarded to children too. “
Another senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy reminded Yadav that children can not commit rapes and those commit rapes could not be treated as children.
Swamy sought SP leader to know that “boys or children” who commit rapes are never given Capital punishment and are instead put in juvenile homes.