BJP minister’s ‘victim blaming’ Australian women cricketers spark outrage

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya said that alleged molestation of two Australian women cricketers in Indore was a ‘lesson’ for international players as well as authorities, triggering a controversy.

Kailash Vijayvargiya drew in massive criticism over his ‘victim-blaming’; many called out the minister for blaming international guests rather than focusing on ‘systemic failures’.

Playing up what he said a ‘lesson’, the minister said ‘Players must keep in mind that when they leave their place, their security and the local administration should be informed because there is a huge craze for cricketers in India’, Maktoobmedia.com reported.

Triggering the controversy he said the incident was a ‘lesson’ for authorities and the players, adding that ‘Sometimes, players don’t realise their popularity. It’s a lesson for the players’.

Drawing parallel with the incident in Indore, the minster claimed how fans torn off a well-known English football player’s clothing at a hotel in England in his presence.

However, in an interview with NDTV he acknowledged lapse in security, but still blamed the players for ‘suddenly’ leaving without informing anyone including their coach, adding that ‘This is a mistake from their side too… They should have been more careful’.

Congress senior leader Arun Yadav termed the minister’s remarks ‘unfortunate and utterly disgusting’, adding that it exposed the BJP’s ‘troubling mindset’ of blaming the victims rather than fixing the law and order.

MP Congress chief Jitu Patwari and leader Mumtaz Patel called out Kailash Vijayvargiya’s statement labelling it a “stain” on Madhya Pradesh.

Many on social media expressed outrage at the minster’s statement with users calling it ‘shameful’ as well as ‘an attempt to shift focus from security failures’.