APCC chief's 'midnight' remarks on women draws flak

Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) chief Botsa Satyanarayana’s “midnight” remark against women has drawn widespread condemnation from several quarters forcing a hasty withdrawal of his comments.

Addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan on Monday, the senior Congress leader wondered why women have to be out on the streets at midnight referring to the 23-year-old gang-rape victim battling for her life in New Delhi.

“We had our freedom at midnight. It doesn’t mean that we have to roam around at midnight,” the state party chief said without mincing words. Adding insult to injury, Botsa went on to say: “The girl who was raped in Delhi should not have travelled in a private bus during night time,” and added that girls should behave as per the prevailing norms. While condemning the incident, he said “though it was a minor issue,” Congress president Sonia Gandhi holding discussions with the agitators reflected on her magnanimity. The remarks made by the APCC chief came under heavy criticism from several leaders, including women’s organisations. “This shows his feudal attitude, the main reason why men feel that they could get away with any crime by enforcing a code of conduct only for women,” said Sandhya of the Progressive Organisation for Women.

Realising the damage done in the vernacular electronic media, he hastily retracted his statement and claimed that he only said that the government should provide the right to move about even during midnight to all citizens.

He also said that as a father he was disturbed and only wanted to condemn the incident and apologised if his remarks had inadvertently hurt anyone. Botsa said his intention was to convey to parents that they need to be extra careful and asked people not to misinterpret his statement.