Fives Times Politicians Thought It Was Okay To Trivialise Rape

The cases of rape and women violence have been increasing in India. Delhi alone reported more than a 20% increase in cases of molestation and rape in 2021. Amidst this, the sexist and outrageous comments made by Indian politicians sometimes in the name of making jokes and sometimes defending the inadequate law and order has caused concerns.

The recent statement made by Karnataka MLA KR Ramesh Kumar is an addition to the already long list of derogatory comments made by the ministers in the past. The Minister said to Speaker in Karnataka Assembly "There is a saying - when rape is inevitable, lie down and enjoy it. That is exactly the position into which you are". The speaker laughed off the remark instead of reprimanding the MLA.

Five Statements By Politician Trivialising Rape:

1. “How can you say gang rape? Gang rape means four-five people,”

The statement from Karnataka Home Minister K J George in 2018 sparked controversy. In one of the rape cases in Karnataka, where a BPO employee was raped by two men, the driver and cleaner of vehicle, the minister said it cannot be classified as gang rape. Many activists, members from National Commission of Women and leader came in media to express their objection to such insensitive statement.

2. "Rapes are prevalent in India, not in Bharat"

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat said that in villages there are no cases of rapes or sex crimes, they are just present in urban belt. However, the RSS spokesperson later clarified that his statement should be taken in perspective of the value of women in ancient India. Pritish Nandy, famous poet and a former parliamentarian from Maharashtra, showed disgust at the statement saying, "My Bharat is far from being mahaan".

3. "Such incidents of rape happen all the time"

In Karnataka Assembly, Minister Shivaram Hebbar made a comment earlier this year that rape happens all the time. It is not such that the rape cases take place only when BJP is in power, he said on being blamed by fellow Congress members from the Assembly after the party came to power in the state. The political tussle between the parties continued wherein they continued using the "rape" phrases for either side. Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said, "The rape happened there (Mysuru) but the Congress is trying to rape the Home Minister."

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4.  "Four people are named for rape, can it be possible? It is not practical. "

The statement by former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mulayam Singh Yadav in 2015 was condemned widely for his lack of understanding and insensitive approach towards violence against women. Few years back, he also made comment on death sentence by the court given to the three accused men in Mumbai gang rape. Yadav said, "Should rape cases be punished with hanging? They are boys, they make mistakes". This statement was given by him while he was campaigning for a national election in Moradabad. Statements as such by national leaders are sure to give the molesters a free hand to do as per they wish.

5. "One small incident of rape in Delhi advertised world over is enough to cost us million of dollars in terms of lower tourism"

The bizarre statement by former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in 2014 at a state tourism meeting with minsters was not something expected from an educated leader. The terming of rape as "small incident" portrayed how the minister took the horrific Nirbhaya(The 2012 Delhi gang rape) case as. Nirbhaya's parents were saddened by the comments of Jaitley and ">said that such comments will only boost the rapists and the loss of a citizen of India amounts to loss of India as well."

If law and order situation worsens, it will dampen the economic progress of the country. Rather blaming a case to be cause of economic failure, it is necessary to ensure that heinous crimes don't occur in the first place.

Views expressed by the author are their own.