While parents in a Bangalore school protested against the alleged rape of a six-year-old by two school-staff members, Goa minister Sudin Dhavalikar was busy preaching about preserving Indian "sanskar" by shunning "western culture," which apparently influences women.
"Even if my effigy is burnt, no one can burn my sanskar (values) and thoughts. I will continue to take them to the people until I can. These alone will bring glory to Goa and India over time," NDTV quoted Dhavalikar.
A sports teacher and gym instructor allegedly raped the six-year old in the school premises on 2 July, according to Times of India.
However, the incident came to light only on 15 July after her parents discovered about the ordeal the child had faced on 9 July when she complained of stomach ache and was taken to hospital. Police has started investigation, but nobody has been arrested yet.
The minister's comments on his efforts to safeguard Indian culture follow his chauvinistic comments a fortnight back, in which he demanded a ban on "pub culture" and a rule prohibiting young girls from wearing skirts and bikinis.
He reportedly said that "pub culture" is not Indian, and has spoilt "sisters and daughters" of India. He even said women should quit drinking liquor, wearing mini-skirts and short dresses to pubs, which according to him are against the Indian culture
Dhavalikar claimed that a ban on mini-skirts and bikinis would ensure women's safety in the state. Interestingly. while he demanded to set various rules to suppress women's freedom, he failed to suggest measures to stop men from committing heinous crimes against women.
How politicians have dishonoured Indian women with their sexist remarks:
October 2012
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi about Shashi Tharoor's wife, late Sunanda Pushkar: "Wah kya girlfriend hai. Apne kabhi dekha hai 50 crore ka girlfriend?" (What a girlfriend. Have you ever seen a 50-crore-girl friend).
- Ex-Chief Minister of Haryana Om Prakash Chautala: "We should learn from the past, specially in Mughal era, people used to marry their girls to save them from Mughal atrocities and currently a similar situation is arising in the state. I think that's the reason khap has taken such a decision and I support it."
December 2012
- Abhijit Mukherjee on Nirbhaya rape protesters: "I would term the protests in Delhi as what is popularly known as Pink Revolution. It is becoming fashionable to land up on the streets with candle in hand... disconnected from reality... go to discotheques... most of the protesters are not students. They are dented and painted women chasing two minutes on fame..."
- Andhra Pradesh Congress chief Botsa Satyanarayana: "Just because India achieved freedom at midnight does not mean that women can venture out after dark... Although it (Delhi gang-rape) was a minor incident, Soniaji made it a point to meet the protesters when they called on her."
- Congress MP Sanjay Nirupam to HRD minister Smriti Irani on a Television News Programme: "Char din hue hain aur aap rajnitik vishleshak bani firti hain (It's only four days of your political career, you have become a political analyst). Aap toh TV pe thumke lagati thi, aaj chunavi vishleshak ban gayi (Till some time ago you were dancing on the TV screens and now you have become a psephologist)!"
January 2014
- Maharashtra State Women's Commission member Asha Mirje, referring to Delhi gang-rape case and Shakti Mills rape case: "Did Nirbhaya really have go to watch a movie at 11 in the night with her friend? Why did the victim (of Shakti Mills gang rape case) go to such an isolated spot at 6 pm? Rapes take place also because of a woman's clothes, her behaviour and her presence at inappropriate places."
April 2014
- Mulayam Singh referring to the court's ruling in the Mumbai Shakti Mills rape case serving death sentence to the guilty: "Should rape cases be punished with hanging? They are boys, they make mistakes."
