“On Beach Whole Night”: Row Over Goa Chief Minister’s Remark In Rape Case

New Delhi:

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant – below stress after the gang-rape of two minor women, and an assault on two minor boys final week – has now been slammed for blaming the survivors and their dad and mom, and showing to absolve his authorities and the police of any duty.

In totally surprising feedback made within the Meeting yesterday, Mr Sawant blamed the dad and mom for permitting their kids to step out – they had been on a seashore 30 km from capital Panaji – late at evening

“When 14-year-old kids keep on the seashore the entire evening, the dad and mom have to introspect. Simply because kids do not hear, we can’t put the duty on the federal government and police,” the Chief Minister, who additionally heads the Residence Ministry, declared.

Mr Sawant mentioned it was the dad and mom’ responsibility to make sure the security of their kids, and that the ladies mustn’t have been allowed to depart dwelling at evening, notably as they’re minors.

“We blame the police… however I wish to level out that of the ten youth who went to the seashore for a celebration, 4 stayed on the seashore the entire evening… two boys and two women. Teenagers, notably minors, shouldn’t be spending the nights on seashores,” he mentioned.

The feedback have triggered livid outcry from opposition leaders, a few of whom demanded Mr Sawant’s resignation and claimed Goa had change into extra harmful for ladies below BJP rule.

Earlier in the present day Goa Congress spokesperson Altone D’Costa hit again on the Chief Minister’s remarks, saying the legislation and order scenario within the state had deteriorated.

“Why ought to we worry whereas shifting round at evening? Criminals must be in jail and law-abiding residents must be out freely shifting round,” he mentioned.

Senior Congress chief Randeep Singh Surjewala additionally lashed out, tweeting: “And Chief Minister ought to give up and go dwelling for such preposterous ‘pearls of knowledge’!”

Goa Ahead Occasion chief Vijai Sardesai, who this week introduced an alliance with the Congress for next year’s election, known as the Chief Minister’s comment “disgusting”.

“The security of residents is the duty of the police and state authorities. If they can not present it, the Chief Minister has no proper to sit down within the put up,” Mr Sardesai mentioned.

Mr Sardesai’s social gathering had walked out of the BJP-led NDA in April, citing its “anti-Goan policies“.

“It’s surprising that the Goa Chief Minister is blaming dad and mom for permitting their kids to enterprise out within the evening… claiming that it isn’t secure. If the state authorities cannot guarantee us our safety, who can? Goa has a historical past of being secure for ladies… that tag is being misplaced in BJP rule,” Rohan Khaunte, an unbiased MLA, tweeted.

4 males – one a authorities worker – posed as policemen and raped the 2 women after beating up the boys. The assault passed off on Benaulim seashore.

All 4 accused have been arrested.

Through the dialogue within the Meeting on Wednesday, one MLA claimed an “influential individual” was making an attempt to guard the accused. One other alleged a minister was making an attempt to affect the investigation.

Speaker Rajesh Patnekar expunged each remarks from the proceedings.

With enter from PTI