Outrage over CM’s ‘fake rape’ claim

Humiliating nation’s women is characteristic of the BJP, Congress leader says

Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership of being “misogynist”, the Congress yesterday demanded an apology from Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar for reportedly claiming that most rape cases were “fake” and happened among people “who knew each other well”.

“Misogyny has become a buzzword for the BJP leadership. Humiliating India’s women has become a characteristic style of BJP leaders. The Talibani thought process of the BJP leadership, particularly Khattar’s, has been exposed,” Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said here.

Derogatory remarks

Surjewala blamed the BJP for Harayana becoming a hub of crime, particularly rape and molestation of women.

Asking Khattar to apologise for his derogatory remarks, Surjewala also demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi break his silence on BJP leaders often making sexist remarks.

Addressing a rally in Kalka town of Panchkula district, Khattar on Friday reportedly said that 80-90 per cent of rape and molestation incidents happened among people who knew each other well.

“They roam around together for some time and if one day they get into some quarrel, they file an FIR claiming they have been raped.”

In the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Khattar had made derogatory remarks, asking women to “run around naked if they wanted freedom”.

He also came under fire from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who accused his Haryana counterpart was “justifying rape”.