Indulging In Victim-Shaming, Goa CM Asks Why 14-Yr-Old Girls Hang Out On Beaches At Night
Pramod Sawant told the state assembly that the parents of teenagers need to introspect as to why their wards hang out on the states beaches after dark. Sawant was responding to accusations levelled by the Opposition MLAs who had alleged a breakdown in the law and order situation in Goa after two minor girls were allegedly raped.
Instead of holding the perpetrators accountable, and taking measures to improve safety of women in the state, the chief minister of BJP-ruled Goa, Pramod Sawant, decided to indulge in victim-shaming.
On Wednesday, Sawant told the state assembly that the parents of teenagers need to introspect as to why their wards hang out on the state¡¯s beaches after dark.
Sawant was responding to accusations levelled by the Opposition MLAs, who had alleged a breakdown in the law and order situation in Goa after two minor girls were allegedly raped on the popular Colva beach in South Goa on the night of July 24.
File Photo
¡°Ten children went for a party on the beach. Out of the 10, six returned home . The remaining four, including two boys and two girls, stayed on the beach the whole night. When a 14-year old girl spends the night on the beach, the parents too have to introspect, they too should be taking care," the Chief Minister said in his reply to a calling attention motion moved during the ongoing Monsoon Session of the state Assembly.
¡°It is also our responsibility. Just because children are not listening (to their parents), we cannot leave all the responsibility to the police," Sawant said.
Four persons, namely Asif Hateli, 21, Rajesh Mane, 33, Gajanand Chinchankar, 31, and Nitin Yabbal, 19, have been arrested in connection with the alleged rape incident.
The Opposition, meanwhile, slammed the Chief Minister¡¯s comment on the rape issue. Sawant also faced a lot of flak on social media.
BJP's Goa CM indulges in rape victim shaming !
¡ª All India Mahila Congress (@MahilaCongress) July 29, 2021
Time and again, this sick mindset of the BJP is reflected whenever a rape or sexual violence incident takes place in the state which they rule.
Such statements are not only reprehensible but an display their Anti-Women agenda. pic.twitter.com/cBgl9KrQil
¡°When 14 year olds stay on the beach the whole night, the parents need to introspect¡±
¡ª Priyanka Chaturvedi?? (@priyankac19) July 29, 2021
Goa CM on gang rape on Goa Beach. This is sick&brazen abdication of responsibility to keep Goa safe. Shameless. pic.twitter.com/ShnygjcWQc
The question for introspection is : Are Goa's beaches safe? And if they are not, then who needs to introspect? And does rape takes place only after dark?
¡ª viju james (@vijujames) July 29, 2021
Former Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai said that Goa¡¯s brand image should be that anyone is safe to travel in the state till late into the night.
¡°That should be Goa¡¯s brand image. As a Home Minister, you should say ¡®we are so safe, you can travel at night. Nothing will happen¡¯," Sardesai said.
