In Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party Legislator Blames Women for Rape

A lawmaker of the ruling Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh has said women were as much responsible for rapes, drawing strong condemnation from opposition parties.

"A lot of rape incidents are happening these days, causing a hue and cry in the media. No government can change this unless society corrects itself. And if someone says women are less responsible, actually women are more to blame," Shiv Charan Prajapati, the legislator from Hamirpur, was heard saying at a women's meet.
At this, UP Women's Commission Chairperson Zarina Usmani, who was presiding over the meeting, objected, reported news agency Press Trust of India.

In response, the legislator said, "If I have said anything wrong, I apologise."

Congress leader Akhilesh Pratap Singh criticised Mr Prajapati, asking how he could make such insensitive comments, reported PTI. State BJP spokesman Vijay Bahadur said lawmakers should exercise caution while making comments, else it would encourage the wrongdoers.

Three cases of rape were reported in the state today - one of them involved a five-year-old in Firozabad and another, two teenage sisters in Badaun.

There was, however, no response from the Samajwadi Party.

The legislator's comments came as Union minister Giriraj Singh's racist comments on Sonia Gandhi raised a nationwide storm. "If Rajiv Gandhi had married a Nigerian lady and not a white-skinned woman, then would the Congress have accepted her leadership?" he had said.

As condemnation poured in from all quarters and Nigeria registered its protest, BJP chief Amit Shah, sources said, advised restraint to the minister.