NEW DELHI: Opposition in Rajya Sabha on Thursday demanded sacking of a Rajasthan minister for questioning a gang-raped student's integrity as the Centre assured the Rajya Sabha that it would convey the concerns to the state government for corrective steps.
After a brief adjournment during Zero Hour over the issue, JD(U) leader Kahkashan Perween, who had raised the matter during Zero Hour, again raised it and demanded that the Centre should immediately take steps to sack the Rajasthan minister who had made the "irresponsible" remarks.
"I am confident that the Prime Minister gives lot of respect to women. If he does so, then this (Rajasthan)minister should be sacked immediately," she said.
It is unfortunate that the state Home Minister has made such remarks, Parveen added.
Responding to JD(U) member's demand, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukthar Abbas Naqvi said "any such statement cannot be justified. It should be condemned if it ismtrue. The National Women Commission has given a notice."
"Simulataneously, the Centre will convey the sentiments of this House to the state government so that it takes corrective steps," he said.
Earlier during Zero Hour, the opposition parties, including Congress, forced a brief adjournment of proceedings in Rajya Sabha over the Rajasthan minister questioning the integrity of a student who was allegedly gangraped.
Parveen had raised the issue of state Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria's reported remark that it was unlikely that eight men gangraped the girl and she did not complain.
The JD(U) member was supported by women Congress members including Viplove Thakur who displayed what appeared were newspaper reports of the minister's remarks.
As Deputy Chairman P J Kurien disallowed her saying it was not a point of order, the women lawmakers trooped into the Well of the House raising slogans against the "insensitive" remarks. Soon male members too joined them in the Well, raising slogans.
"Without notice I cannot allow (a discussion)," Kurien said. "No notice is received (on the subject)." With members unrelenting and refusing to go back to their seats, he adjourned the House for 10 minutes.
Joining the bandwagon of Indian politicians who have made controversial statements on rapes, Rajasthan home minister Gulab Chand Kataria put the proverbial foot in his mouth by making contentious remarks on alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl in Bikaner.
Kataria came under fire in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday for his remarks after opposition parties, staged a protest raising slogans against the "insensitive" remarks, following which deputy chairman P J Kurien adjourned the House for 10 minutes.
The home minister reportedly raised questions over the delay on part of the family in reporting the alleged rape of a minor by eight teachers in Bikaner last year.
“I do not find it normal that a young girl raped by eight men would fail to inform her parents of the incident the same day. It does not make much sense to me and I say this after years of experience,” Kataria had said to media persons Saturday.
The alleged incident occurred in April 2015. However, the matter came to light only last Friday after the girl's father alleged in a complaint to the Bikaner superintendent of police that his daughter was raped by eight teachers of a private school, who also made a video of the act.
Ironically, Kataria, a teacher and lawyer by training with a postgraduate degree in Geography, has five daughters.
As the case sparked outrage on social media, it has come to light that the 13-year-old victim was suffering from cancer.
Incidentally, this is not the first time that an Indian politician has stirred up a hornets' nest with outrageous statements on attacks of women and children in the country.
10 shocking statements by Indian politicians on rape
1. Asaram Bapu
Amid the fury In the Spiritual’ leader and alleged rapist Asaram Bapu about the 2012 Delhi gang-rape and murder “The victim is as guilty as her rapists. She should have called the culprits brothers and begged before them to stop. Had she recited the Saraswati mantra, she would not have boarded any bus after watching a movie with her boyfriend.”
2. Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh supremo Mohan Bhagwat
"Rapes take place in cities and not in villages. Women should refrain from venturing out with men other than their relatives. Such incidents happen due to the influence of western culture and women wearing fewer clothes."
3. Samajwadi Party lawmaker Abu Azmi
"If you keep petrol and fire together then it will burn. There should be a law to ensure that there should be no 'nangapan' (nudity). Those who wear less clothes should also be banned."
4. Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav
"Should rape cases lead to hanging? Boys are boys, they make mistakes. Two or three have been given the death sentence in Mumbai. We will try and change such laws. ... We will also ensure punishment of those who report false cases."
5. BJP politician Babulal Gaur
"Rape is a social crime which depends on the man and the woman. It is sometimes right and sometimes wrong."
6. Andhra Pradesh Congress leader Botsa Satyanarayana on the Delhi gang rape
"Just because the country attained independence at midnight, is it proper for women moving at midnight?"
7. Trinamool Congress leader and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee
"Earlier, if men and women would hold hands, they would get caught by parents and reprimanded, but now everything is so open. It is more like an open market with open options. Rapes happen because men and women interact freely."
8. Haryana Khap Panchayat leader Jitender Chattar
“Chowmein leads to hormonal imbalance evoking an urge to indulge in such acts.”
9. Kiran Bedi, BJP leader and former IPS officer
“Male pigeons always chase female pigeons. It’s an animal instinct.”