"Sanskaar, Proper Dressing...": BJP MLA's Bizarre Comment To Stop Rapes Attracts Opposition Heat; Here's All You Need To Know

Singh, while speaking in reference to the Hathras gang-rape and murder case, said if parents instil 'sanskar' in their daughters while raising them, incidents of rape can be avoided.

BJP MLA Surendra Singh. (Image: ANI)

New Delhi: Several political parties in West Bengal have slammed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Ballia MP Surendra Singh, who recently said that 'sanskar' (values) should be instilled in girls to prevent incidents of rape, and sought to know why the saffron party was "maintaining silence" over the remark. Singh, while speaking in reference to the Hathras gang-rape and murder case, said if parents instil 'sanskar' in their daughters while raising them, incidents of rape can be avoided. "Even if the government flaunts sword before the rapists that won't help in stopping such crimes unless parents teach their daughters to dress properly," he had said. Describing Singh as a "pervert", TMC MP Mahua Moitra tweeted, "Is @BJP going to break their maunvrat over this sick pervert who is elected on their ticket?" Mitra, who attached a video clip of the UP MLA's remarks with her tweet, further said on Sunday, "Each of these saffron sickos take India back into the dark ages each time they open their mouths." "This is what is expected from BJP MLAs like Singh who have no respect and regard for women, who have no proper education and are blighted by medieval ideas. Yet such people are fielded by the BJP, which goes on to show the true colour of the saffron party," said another TMC leader Partha Chatterjee. Moitra and Chatterjee's political adversary, CPI(M) Legislature Party leader Sujan Chakraborty, too, condemned the statement and said Hindutva forces treat women as "second- class citizens". WATCH | BJP MLA' Controversial Statement On Rape

#WATCH Incidents like these can be stopped with help of good values, na shashan se na talwar se. All parents should teach their daughters good values. It's only the combination of govt & good values that can make country beautiful: Surendra Singh, BJP MLA from Ballia. #Hathras pic.twitter.com/47AmnGByA3

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 3, 2020

Even the leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Choudhury said such remarks by a BJP lawmaker after the "brutal rape and murder of a Dalit woman will only encourage rapists". Alleging that cases of Dalit atrocities are continuing unabated in UP and other BJP-ruled states, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had said on Sunday that the saffron party's ideology "enforces caste-based segregation". "Dalit-oppression by BJP ruled Govts is an open secret now. The party's Anti-Dalit ideology enforces caste-based segregation even in today's day & age. Their hardships will not let @BJP4India & its leaders rest peacefully!" she tweeted.

Dalit-oppression by BJP ruled Govts is an open secret now. The party's Anti-Dalit ideology enforces caste-based segregation even in today's day & age. Their hardships will not let @BJP4India & its leaders rest peacefully!

"कर रही जो दलितों का सर्वनाश, उस भाजपा का होगा सत्यानाश।" — Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) October 4, 2020

Meanwhile state BJP leader Sayantan Basu said that the party doesn't approve of the Ballia MLA's statement. "We hope those involved in the Hathras incident are punished soon. But what about the comments of our chief minister after Park Street (rape) incident? She had described it as a minor incident and even cast aspersions on the character of the rape victim," Basu added.