Rajasthan minister apologises after rape remarks spark row
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Jaipur: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Dhariwal on Thursday tendered an apology over his rape remarks in the House, saying it was "a slip of tongue".
The BJP, however, shouted slogans against him and demanded his resignation.
"It was a slip of tongue. I feel sorry for that. I wanted to say something for the desert state. I personally respect women and will continue to do so. If my comments have hurt anyone, I apologise," Mr Dhariwal said.
During an address in the Rajasthan assembly, where he was 'explaining the reason' why Rajasthan is number one in rape crimes. Dhariwal said, "We are number one in rape cases, what are the reasons for these rape cases now? Somewhere there is a mistake. Anyway, Rajasthan has been a men's state, now what to do with it?"
His remark made many ministers and Congress MLAs laugh. No one even interrupted Dhariwal, who was replying to a debate on the demands for grants of police and jails in the Assembly on Wednesday night.
No MLA seated in the assembly at the time took objection to Dhariwal's remarks during the session.
Later in the day, Rajasthan BJP president Satish Poonia sought Dhariwal's resignation for the "shameless" way in which he acknowledged that the state leads in the number of rapes, calling it an insult to the "dignity" of both women and men, the Indian Express reported. Even here, however, Poonia did not object to Dhariwal's controversial remark.
The Speaker said Mr Dhariwal had visited his chamber and had confessed that his comment was unintentional.