Rape victim should have been careful: Andhra Pradesh Congress chief

HYDERABAD: While his party bosses
in the national capital have been
nearly pulverized by raging protests
against the gang-rape of a Delhi girl,
Andhra Pradesh Congress chief Botsa
Satyanarayana on Monday opened
his mouth to put his foot right in,
saying women are asking for trouble
if they venture out at night. Worse,
he described the assault on the
physiotherapy student as a "minor
incident" for which party president
Sonia Gandhi had reached out to
agitating people.
"Just because India achieved
freedom at midnight does not mean
that women can venture out after
dark. They should ensure that they
do not board buses with few
passengers," Botsa said to the shock
of reporters at a press conference at
Congress headquarters here.
Botsa's comment came in context of
growing protests against the gang-
rape and violence against women in
general. He then tried to cover up
for his remark by praising Sonia.
"Although it (Delhi gang-rape) was a
minor incident, Soniaji made it a
point to meet the protesters when
they called on her," Botsa said.
There was no stopping Botsa as he
continued, "The woman should have
thought twice before boarding the
suspicious private bus that night.
Though the incident was
condemnable, she should also have
behaved keeping in mind the
situation."
He also slammed the protesters
"taking the law into their hands" at
Vijay Chowk in Delhi and then
decreed that since the UPA
chairperson had taken note of the
incident, there should be no further
agitations either in Delhi or in
Andhra Pradesh.
Within minutes, Botsa's remarks
were flashed across all news channels
in Andhra Pradesh and a rattled PCC
chief called for a second press
conference to tender an apology.
"I made the comments as a
responsible father. The incident was
not small, it should not be treated
like that," he said and apologized. All
governments should endeavor to
create an atmosphere where
anybody can move around at
midnight as well, he added.
But there were no takers for Botsa's
apology. Women's rights activist V
Sandhya said, "Botsa Satyanarayana's
statement unmasks the true colour of
our politicians, and their attitude
towards women. It shows his lack of
understanding of the issue. He said
women must not roam around during
night just because we got the
Independence at midnight, but he
doesn't know that the Constitution
has given women right to equality. It
is shameful to hear such words from
the man who is the PCC president."