Amid criticism from various quarters over his “small rape incident” remark, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday clarified on the controversy saying he never referred to any particular case and that he did not intend to trivialise any crime, particularly those against women.
“I regret that the statement has been construed or some words that I have used have been construed as insensitive. That was never my intention,” Jaitley said.The minister was referring to his remarks made at the annual state tourism ministers’ conference on Thursday that “one small incident” of rape in Delhi, advertised world over, was enough to cost India millions of dollars in terms of global tourism.
While Congress leader Rashid Alvi termed the remarks as “most unfortunate,” scores of Mahila Congress workers staged protest at the Minister’s residence. Member of National Commission of Women Nirmala Sawant condemned the remark.
Jaitley said he has always been outspoken on issues relating to crimes, particularly those against women. “I am very sensitive to these issues myself and there is no question of trivialising any crime or any particular incident. I had not referred to any particular incident,” he said. The Minister said he had spoken “in general” on how crime can hurt tourism and the image of crime against women itself dissuades tourists from coming to India. Though he had not specified any incident, his remarks were seen to be a reference to the rape and brutal assault of a paramedic girl on December 16, 2012.