The rising instances of rape and crimes against women in the country have shaken the nation to the core. Amid the outrage over the death of a gang-rape victim in Hathras, followed by her cremation allegedly without the consent of her family, the comments of BJP MLA Surendra Singh from Bairia constituency in UP’s Ballia have enraged many Bollywood celebrities on Twitter.
As per a report in HT, the MLA was asked about the alarming number of rape cases in the state during a press meet on October 3, 2020. He reportedly responded by saying, “I am a teacher. Even if the government stands with the sword, such incidents wouldn’t stop. Such incidents will stop when parents give sanskaar to their daughters and inculcate values in them.”
#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
He also added, “Sabhi pita aur mata ka dharm hai ki apni jawan beti ko sanskaarit vatavaran mein rehne, chalne aur ek shaleen vyavhaar pastut karne ka tareeka sikhaye. Yeh sabka dharm hai, mera bhi dharm hai, sarkar ka bhi dharm hai lekin parivar ka bhi dharm hai. Jaha sarkar ka dharm raksha karne ka hai wahin parivar ka bhi dharm hai ki bacho mein sanskar dalein. Sarkar aur sanskaar milkar desh ko sunder roop de sakte hai. Dusra koi samne aane wala nahi hai.”
These misogynistic remarks were not received well by celebrities like Kriti Sanon, Swara Bhaskar, Pooja Bedi, Vir Das, etc. who spoke against this problematic mindset on Twitter. From being asked to “respect the womb that bore him” to asking why can’t “some sanskaar (be given) to their sons”, here are some of the heated reactions they had to the politician’s statement:
Teach daughters how to not get raped??? Can he hear himself talk? THIS is the MINDSET that needs to change! Its so messed up! Why can’t they give some sanskaar to their sons??? https://t.co/JXj9Tx6YOe
— Kriti Sanon (@kritisanon) October 3, 2020
ये घटिया आदमी पुराना पापी है। #rapedefender BJP MLA Surendra Singh https://t.co/xq8WZxzKpO
— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) October 3, 2020
These are the kind of MORONS & patriarchal lunatics that the @BJP4India has in its folds.
Time for a colon cleansing for the ruling party.. dont u think? https://t.co/WyYWiMk0Wd— Pooja Bedi (@poojabeditweets) October 4, 2020
To Stop rape we need to change the mentality of men like him who blame a woman for rape. We write “A woman was raped” instead of saying “the man raped a woman”.The stigma is always on a woman when it should be on the rapist.Teach this man to respect the womb that bore him first. https://t.co/OoOo50YimY
— Farah Khan (@FarahKhanAli) October 3, 2020
How very kind of this gentleman to point this out.
But what should a family do with the Sons? https://t.co/85sqZraHc9— Shruti Seth (@SethShruti) October 4, 2020
I agree. Family is important. Parents…raise your sons not to think like this creep. https://t.co/mrREJ6ciAA
— Vir Das (@thevirdas) October 4, 2020
Speechless .., and people elect these morons .., and a party actually gives them tickets . With MLAs like those Hope is a distant dream https://t.co/RO56q8C2pv
— Onir (@IamOnir) October 4, 2020
Previously, former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju also sparked outrage and received criticism for remarking that rising unemployment causes an increase in rape cases.
We highly condemn this mentality and believe it shouldn’t have any place in 2020. What do you make of these comments? Tell us!