'A beautiful woman 'distracts, and rape may follow': Congress MLA ‘rape’ theory remark sparks row; Madhya Pradesh CM seeks Rahul Gandhi’s apology

BHOPAL: Congress MLA Phool Singh Baraiya caused outrage with his remarks on Friday that on seeing a beautiful woman “one can get distracted and rape may follow”. The MLA had then continued in the same appalling manner, saying that women from the SC, ST and OBC communities are “not beautiful” but were raped because of what he believed was mentioned in the scriptures.

Before Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Indore, CM Mohan Yadav demanded an apology from Congress MP and leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for Baraiya’s abhorrent characterisation of women, saying on Saturday, “Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is coming on Saturday. And Phool Singh Baraiya has given a statement to spread venom in society. I expect Rahul Gandhi to talk tough to his MLA, suspend him before eventually expelling him from the party so as to send across a larger message — that Congress respects all sections of society .”

Congress distances itself from Baraiya’s rape statement
CM Yadav said, “I condemn this statement made by Phool Singh Baraiya. Being a public representative , I hope he will refrain from making such comments again.”
Speaking to a reporter in Datia on Friday, Baraiya had proffered a self-propounded, twisted “theory” on why infant girls aged 4 to 10 months were victims of sexual crimes.

“In India, the maximum number of rapes are visited upon women from SC, ST and OBC categories. The theory of rape is, when a man, walking down the road, sees a beautiful, extremely beautiful woman, then his mind could be distracted, a rape may follow (sic),” he had said.

He had then asked: “Are there any extremely beautiful women among SCs, STs and OBCs? Why then are they raped? Because such instructions are given in our religious scripts… It has been mentioned that if you have intimacy with women of these castes then it is the same as going on a pilgrimage.” Left red-faced, the Congress went on the defensive. Party state president Jitu Patwari was forced to issue a statement on Saturday evening saying that a criminal who rapes women has no caste or religion. He is simply a criminal who deserves the harshest punishment under the law … What Phool Singh Baraiya said is his personal opinion. Congress does not agree with such statements. He has been asked to clarify his remark.”

BJP, meanwhile, staged a protest against Baraiya at the Board Office Square on Saturday, torching his effigy.