Recently, in Uttar Pradesh’s Budaun, a 50-year-old woman who was an Anganwadi worker was gang-raped and brutally murdered allegedly by a priest and two others, reports India Today. The victim went missing on Sunday and the police ignored the family’s complaint. Even after the accused dumped her body outside her house, the cops allegedly remained irresponsive.
The victim had gone to the temple at 6 PM after which the heinous crime supposedly took place. Her body was dumped at 11.30 PM in front of her house. Post-mortem reports revealed that there were serious injuries to the victim’s private parts, evidence of substantial blood loss, and fracture in a leg and ribs.
Just a few days after the incident, a member of the National Commission for Women, Chandramukhi Devi, remarked that the rape wouldn’t have happened if the woman didn’t visit the temple late in the evening, reports Hindustan Times.
“I tell women again and again that they should never go out at odd hours under anyone’s influence. I think if she had not gone out in the evening or was accompanied by any child of the family perhaps this incident could have been avoided. But this was pre-planned as she was called through a phone call. She went out and then returned in such a state,” said Chandramukhi Devi, who also visited the victim’s family.
A video of her making these statements has gone viral online and is receiving tremendous backlash from people. Have a look:
BIZARRE: NCW member Chandramukhi lectures women on timings of them venturing out, says the Badaun incident wouldn’t have happened had the women not gone out alone in EVENING!
She was sent by NCW to visit the kin of victim in Badaun. pic.twitter.com/jUpltuBtea
— Prashant Kumar (@scribe_prashant) January 7, 2021
People online slammed the NCW member for making such regressive statements. Even NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma condemned her.
No I don't..I don't know how and why the member has said this but women have all the right move on their will whenever and wherever they want to. It's society and state's duty to make places safe for women. https://t.co/WlG2DWs20G
— Rekha Sharma (@sharmarekha) January 7, 2021
These are the kind of people who are responsible for such rampant rapes in certain states. Rapists are being made to feel that it’s not their fault. The fault is of the woman who is being raped.
— Aamish (@Aamish1234) January 7, 2021
That’s cool. But the other option in fact a better option would be to keep men chained after certain hours so that women can move around freely and safely at any given time.
— Ved Nayak (@catcheronthesly) January 7, 2021
WTF!!! This truly is nauseating. It’s unthinkable that someone has these kinds of ideas in their their head. She isn’t giving a solution. People like her are exactly the problem.
— VJ (@VJ290481) January 7, 2021
Such a statement coming from a member of NCW is shameful. I’m wondering what she must have told the the family of the victim.
Women like her are making lives of other women tough. She being the member of NCW is such a disgrace.— b.a.n.j.a.r.a (@banjara_trails) January 7, 2021
Making the women like her NCW member is very shameful!
Instead of speaking against the criminal she is justifying the heinous crime!
She should be fired along with the person who appointed her at this post otherwise there is no hope left for women in NCW which is for women !— pawan yadav (@pawanyadav8) January 7, 2021
Shame on you @NCWIndia remove this member or else face wrath of public. What retarded members you have working for you?? Is this how you are going to save women of this country? SHAME!! https://t.co/RPBVEesdEG
— Sakshi Singh (@SakshiS17856146) January 8, 2021
Heinous crimes are committed against women, police tries to cover up, the organization mandated to empower women resorts to moral policing instead.
Thoroughly disgusted. No country for women. #BadaunHorror https://t.co/voUbA6qtXN
— SantoshKumarDwivedi (@SantoshKumarDw5) January 8, 2021
CW: cis het men, violence
The frustrating part is you can't even counter this by saying hey impose these curfews on the MEN, why don't you because can you imagine the escalation in domestic violence that would lead to? https://t.co/XDcPam6wDd— Edgar Allan Poeha (@vaniIlaessence) January 8, 2021
Honestly , I don't even know what to say . This is so fucking shameful . Women targeting women is the worst . https://t.co/hVoyiUgc8Y
— 🦋 khushi// jack dorsey hate acc 🦋 (@imnotsadyaar) January 7, 2021
In other words,Women are responsible for their Rape.- NCW https://t.co/KPKKuMgqAh
— 🥰 (@_dreamybubbles) January 7, 2021
After facing such a nationwide backlash, Chandramukhi Devi shared a video wherein she addressed the issue. However, she didn’t apologise for her words.
BREAKING: NCW member who said women should not go out in evening now says she never said that!
Although I have never said that but if something like this has come, I take my words back: Chandramukhi pic.twitter.com/2iuEP2XweB
— Prashant Kumar (@scribe_prashant) January 7, 2021
When will we stop victim-blaming women and hold the perpetrators accountable for the heinous crimes they commit?