I/II. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/05/india-state-minister-rape-crimes-comment
India state minister on rape: 'Sometimes it's right, sometimes it's wrong' Home minister in BJP-run Madhya Pradesh state describes rape as a 'social crime' in comments playing down rapes - Reuters in New Delhi - - theguardian.com <http://www.theguardian.com/>, Thursday 5 June 2014 13.40 BST A state minister from Indian prime minister Narendra Modi <http://www.theguardian.com/world/narendra-modi>'s ruling party has described rape <http://www.theguardian.com/society/rape> as a "social crime", saying "sometimes it's right, sometimes it's wrong", in the latest controversial remarks by an Indian politician about rape. The political leaders of Uttar Pradesh, the state where two cousins aged 12 and 14 were raped and hanged last week <http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/29/indian-police-hunt-suspects-gang-rape>, have faced criticism for failing to visit the scene and for accusing the media of hyping the story. A regional politician from Modi's own Bharatiya Janata party (BJP), said that the crime of rape can only be considered to have been committed if it is reported to police. "This is a social crime which depends on men and women. Sometimes it's right, sometimes it's wrong," said Babulal Gaur, the home minister responsible for law and order in the BJP-run central state of Madhya Pradesh. "Until there's a complaint, nothing can happen," he told reporters. Gaur also expressed sympathy with Mulayam Singh Yadav, head of the regional Samajwadi party that runs Uttar Pradesh. In the recent election, Mulayam criticised legal changes that foresee the death penalty for gang rape, saying: "Boys commit mistakes: will they be hanged for rape?" The BJP dismissed Gaur's comments as an expression of his personal views, and not the party's. Modi, who was sworn in as prime minister last week after a landslide election victory, has so far remained silent over the double killing in the village of Katra Shahadatganj, around half a day's drive east of Delhi. The father and uncle of one of the victims said they tried to report the crime to local police but were turned away. Three men have been arrested over the killings. Two policemen have been held on suspicion of trying to cover up the crime. Although a rape is reported in India <http://www.theguardian.com/world/india> every 21 minutes on average, law enforcement failures mean that such crimes - a symptom of pervasive sexual and caste oppression - are often not reported or properly investigated, human rights groups say. More sex crimes have come to light in recent days. A woman in a nearby district of Uttar Pradesh was gang-raped, forced to drink acid and strangled to death. Another was shot dead in northeast India while resisting attackers, media reports said. The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, has said he was "especially appalled" by the rape and murder of the two girls. "We say no to the dismissive, destructive attitude of, 'Boys will be boys'," he said in a statement this week that made clear his contempt for the language used by Mulayam Singh Yadav. II. http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31804&articlexml=Cgarh-home-minister-calls-rape-a-mistake-08062014013003 Jun 08 2014 : The Times of India (Mumbai) C'garh home minister calls rape a `mistake' Anuja Jaiswal & P Naveen Raipur/Bhopal: TNN *FROM RAJASTHAN TO TRIPURA, WOMEN COME UNDER ATTACK Says No One Commits It Intentionally* Chhattisgarh home minister Ramsewak Paikra has said rapes are not intentional, but happen by mistake. Paikra made the remark to regional TV channels on Friday. This comes just 24 hours after MP home minister Babulal Gaur's statement that rapes "are sometimes are right, sometimes wrong". Paikra was clearly heard saying, "Koi jan bujhkar nahi karta, dhoke se ho jata hai dushkarm" (No one commits rape intentionally. It happens by mistake). He claimed on Saturday he was misquoted by the media. Talking to TOI, the minister said his statement was "twisted" by the media. "I had said rapes are committed by deceit and are condemnable," he said. Paikra is the third politician to put his foot in their mouth on the issue. SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav had earlier been caught saying, "Ladkon se galti ho jaati hai." (Boys do commit mistakes). Talking to TOI, Congress spokesperson Shailesh Nitin Trivedi said, "This shows the insensitivity of BJP ministers towards women.Paikra should be sacked if he does not apologize." In Madhya Pradesh state BJP president and Union min ister Narendra Singh Tomar said party workers and ministers should not cross their limits. "Be it a party worker or a minister, a pubic representative should be careful while making statements on sensitive issues," Tomar said. BJP leader Sudha Malaiyya also criticised Gaur. -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
