Sexual Assault On Aussie Women Cricketers: Kailash Vijayvargiya’s ‘Lesson For Them Also’ Remarks Triggers Political Storm
A motorcycle-borne man, identified as Aqeel Khan, molested the two Australian women cricket players when they were walking to a café from their hotel in Indore on Friday morning: Reports
BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh minister Kailash Vijayvargiya has drawn severe flak from several quarters for saying that the two Australian women cricketers, victims of sexual assault by a man in Indore, should also share the blame for their ordeal.
Even as the shocking incident rattled the cricket world as well as the sports lovers in the country, BJP veteran Mr. Vijayvargiya’s controversial statement on it has triggered fresh outrage with several senior political leaders condemning him for his ‘disgraceful’ remarks.
A motorcycle-borne man, identified as Aqeel Khan, molested the two Australian women cricket players when they were walking to a café from their hotel in Indore on Friday morning.
The accused was arrested on Saturday.
While reacting to the incident, Mr. Vijayvargiya called it ‘unfortunate’ and conceded it a security lapse.
He however said that “It is a lesson for us and for the players as well.”
“I feel that when we go to another country, or another city, we should also worry about our own safety”, he said.
The players should inform their security or local administration or at least one person when they leave their venue, since there is a huge craze for cricket players, he said.
He said that like cricketers in India, there is a craze for footballers in England.
The minister said that he has seen football players’ clothes being torn by the fans and recounted how autograph seekers tore the clothes of a famous footballer in England.
“Players often do not realize that they are very popular and hence, they should be careful. This incident (sexual assault on the two Aussie women cricketers) has happened; it is a lesson for everyone. It’s a lesson for us and players as well”, he said.
Senior Congress leader and former Union minister Arun Yadav slammed Mr. Vijayvargiya for his remarks, calling it ‘disgusting and regressive’.
The state has failed to provide security to its guests, he said.
He regretted that instead of ensuring security to the women, the minister is blaming the victims.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray also condemned Mr. Vijayvargiya’s statement, calling it a ‘pathetic mentality’.
“As much as embarrassing the incident of @AusWomenCricket members is, the Madhya Pradesh minister calling them out saying that it is a lesson to be ‘more careful’ makes it even worse”, he said in his post on X.
It is shameful to have such a pathetic mentality in the government, he said.
His party colleague Priyanka Chaturvedi and TMC leader Kunal Ghosh also strongly condemned the minister’s statement.
