Congress MLA’s ‘theory’: SC, ST and OBC women raped because of religious scriptures

Baraiya explained that women from these communities were raped because of religious scriptures that he claimed to have read, which promise religious merit to those who establish sexual relations with women from the three communities.

“Among Adivasis, SCs and STs, are these extremely beautiful women? Why does rape occur? Such instructions are written in their religious scriptures. It is written that if a person engages in sexual relations with women of a particular caste, he will receive religious merit. Now, if he cannot go on pilgrimage, what alternative is suggested? It is said that if you engage in sexual relations with their women, you will receive the same merit. So, what will such a person do? He will try to catch them in the dark,” he said.

Baraiya claimed that a “man cannot commit rape”.

“That is why rape happens even with a four-month-old baby. He believes that if he rapes a woman of a particular caste, he will receive that religious merit,” Baraiya said.

As the video was circulated widely, Baraiya issued a clarification: “The video has been shot in a way that it shows that the statements reflect my thinking and I am saying this. I wanted to raise the issue that since Independence, rape has not gone down in the country. I have not said anything against women, and I stand with them.”

The ruling linked them to the Congress’s mindset. Union Minister and former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, “For me, daughters are like goddesses. We cannot view daughters by dividing them on the basis of caste or society. In our tradition, it has always been believed that the forms of Goddess Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati are reflected in our daughters. How much more will you divide society? Will you now divide daughters as well? Such indecent remarks should never be made. This is personally very painful for me.”

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said: “Congress leaders, especially senior leader Rahul Gandhi, are coming here. I expect Rahul Gandhi to suspend Congress MLA Phool Singh Baraiya, who has made statements that poison society, and expel him from the party so that it is clear the Congress also respects other sections of society. I strongly condemn Baraiya’s statement.”

BJP state president Hemant Khandelwal also condemned the remarks, saying they “expose the Congress party’s anti-women and insensitive mindset”.

Congress state president Jitu Patwari distanced himself from Baraiya’s comments, calling them his personal opinion.

“An offender who commits rape against women has no caste or religion. He is only a criminal and should be given the strictest punishment under the law,” he said. Patwari also said Baraiya has been asked to explain his remarks.