Meenakshi Lekhi slammed for comment on India “most dangerous” report

The latest to called the Thomson Reuters India Women's Safety survey is BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi, who called it 'fake'. She said  “far worse” cases happen abroad and that New York instead of India’s capital city of New Delhi is the “rape capital” of the world. This comment of Lekhi has angered women activists. Brinda Karat of CPIM who said that the comment represents the "callous mindset" of the BJP.

The Thomson Reuters Foundation’s controversial perception poll has been getting extreme reactions from people in India. The report took 548 expert opinions on safety issues with parameters like sexual violence, human trafficking,  and named India the most dangerous country for women in the world. Earlier this report was 'rejected' by the Indian women and child development ministry.

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"As a woman, Meenakshi Lekhi should show little more sensitivity to the very serious insecure environment which most women in India face day in and day out. She may or may not agree with the survey but she cannot question the figures of her own government which shows huge increase in last three years of rape of minor children and women," Karat told PTI.

As a woman, Meenakshi Lekhi should show little more sensitivity to the very serious insecure environment which most women in India face day in and day out. She may or may not agree with the survey but she cannot question the figures of her own government which shows huge increase in last three years of rape of minor children and women

"And instead of answering this, she is blaming media," Karat further added.

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Activist Kavita Krishnan also accused the party of neglecting the state of violence against women in the country. "What is the point in saying that India has been maligned and situations are bad in other countries too. I hold her accountable. She is a representative of the ruling party, her response cannot be like someone is trying to dishonouring the country by pointing out incidents of violence against women,(sic)" Krishnan said, Firstpost reported.

While Krishnan did not find the Thomson Reuters Foundation report “reliable”, she said that when the same organization had come up with a similar survey in 2013, BJP did not question it then.