A Maharashtra Commission for Women member belonging to NCP kicked up a major controversy by suggesting that a woman’s clothes and her behaviour are also responsible for rapes.
Dr Asha Mirge, a gynaecologist from Akola, said that girls should be mindful of their body language and attire to not invite the attention of potential rapists and asked why the Delhi gang-rape victim went out for a late night movie show.
“Girls should be very careful about what they wear and at what time they move out in city. Their body language should not invite attention of the potential rapists lurking around in the streets,” Mirge said at NCP’s youth wing convention on Tuesday where she shared the dais with party chief Sharad Pawar’s MP daughter Supriya Sule.
“Why should Nirbhaya go for a late night movie show at 11 PMIJ Why should a photo journalist in Mumbai go to an isolated place like Shakti Mills at 6 PMIJ Girls should always remain alertIJ” said Mirge while responding to a question by a young participant about women’s safety.
She also advised the girls to introspect about what they wear and their hair style. An embarassed Supriya Sule later admitted that what Mirge said was inappropriate.
“We are absolutely a gender-equal party. We want every man or woman to get security, have the freedom to travel to any village, taluka, city safely at any time of the day,” Sule, NCP MP from Baramati, said.
Mirge later admitted her mistake and apologised. “I am not a politician, my intention was not to hurt anyone. I express my regret.”