After ban in India, Nirbhaya’s father urges viewing of Delhi gangrape documentary

New Delhi: Nirbhaya's father said on Thursday that everyone should watch the documentary about the Delhi gangrape broadcast by the BBC but banned in India.

The British broadcaster brought forward its screening of "India's Daughter" to Wednesday evening, citing a strong public interest after a court issued an order barring broadcasters from showing it.

The film has sparked a fierce debate because it includes an interview in which one of the convicted rapists, Mukesh Singh, blamed the 23-year-old victim, saying she should not have been out at night and should not have fought back.

But the father of the victim said the comments should be exposed publicly. "Everyone should watch the film," he said to a news channel.

"If a man can speak like that in jail, imagine what he would say if he was walking free," he said, describing the documentary as "the bitter truth".

Read: ‘India’s Daughter’: Controversial documentary on Delhi gangrape uploaded on YouTube

The victim's mother said she did not object to the ban but believed Singh's views were widespread in India.

"I don't care what the government does, bans the film, doesn't ban the film, the only thing I know is that nobody is afraid," she said.

"It is not only Mukesh who thinks like this."

Home Minister Rajnath Singh told parliament on Wednesday the government sought the ban because Singh's comments were "highly derogatory and an affront to the dignity of women".

Union Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu called it a "conspiracy to defame India", but several lawmakers criticised the government for appearing more worried about the country's reputation than about the dangers women face.

The December 2012 gangrape of a young physiotherapy student highlighted the frightening level of violence against women in the world's second most populous country and triggered mass protests.

It led to a major reform of rape laws, speeding up trials and increasing penalties, although many campaigners say little has changed for women on the ground.