SCW member stokes controversy with remarks on rape; apologises

A member of Maharashtra Women's Commission has sparked a huge controversy by saying that body language of girls should not invite attention of potential rapists and questioned why the Delhi gangrape victim went for a late night movie show.

"Girls should be very careful what they wear and at what time they move out in city. Their body language should not invite attention of the potential rapists lurking around the streets," Dr Asha Mirge, a member of the State Commission for Women, said here yesterday.

Referring to the gangrape of a 23-year-old girl in Delhi in December 2012 and the last year's sexual assault of a photojournalist in Mumbai, Mirge asked, "Why Nirbhaya, the victim in the infamous Delhi gangrape case in December 2012 should go to movie for a late night show (11 PM), and similarly the photo-journalist in Mumbai go to an isolated place of Shakti Mills at 6 PM?"

"Girls should always remain alert," said Mirge, a gynaecologist who is also associated with the NCP.

She made the remarks while sharing the dais with NCP MP Supriya Sule at the party's youth wing function here yesterday.

The SCW member also asked the girls to do an introspection of their dressing sense and hair style.

However, she later apologised for her statements and demanded strict punishment for the culprits in rape cases.