<p>"The remark is derogatory and irresponsible. Rape is rape and cannot be classified on a different footing," NCW Chairperson Girija Vyas said in New Delhi.<br />She said a victim is always a victim. "So she is a victim...I don't know why he uttered those words".<br /><br />Congress MP Shantaram Naik had said in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday that if a woman moves with strangers in the late hours, the case of rape should be treated differently, evoking strong protests from women members.<br /><br />Raising the issue of the alleged rape of a Russian woman, Naik said the electronic media was blowing the case out of proportion.<br /><br />He said while rape is the most heinous crime, "...an alleged rape of a lady who moves with strangers for days together even beyond middle of the night is to be treated on different footings."<br /><br />Naik's comments evoked strong protests by opposition members particularly Brinda Karat (CPI-M), Najma Heptulla, Maya Singh (BJP)and Jaya Bachchan (SP).<br /><br />They sought intervention of the Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan, saying Naik should not be allowed to speak the language which, they said, was derogatory to women.<br />Khan asked the Goa MP to submit his Zero Hour text for examination and said the member was going beyond the subject he wanted to raise.<br /></p>
<p>"The remark is derogatory and irresponsible. Rape is rape and cannot be classified on a different footing," NCW Chairperson Girija Vyas said in New Delhi.<br />She said a victim is always a victim. "So she is a victim...I don't know why he uttered those words".<br /><br />Congress MP Shantaram Naik had said in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday that if a woman moves with strangers in the late hours, the case of rape should be treated differently, evoking strong protests from women members.<br /><br />Raising the issue of the alleged rape of a Russian woman, Naik said the electronic media was blowing the case out of proportion.<br /><br />He said while rape is the most heinous crime, "...an alleged rape of a lady who moves with strangers for days together even beyond middle of the night is to be treated on different footings."<br /><br />Naik's comments evoked strong protests by opposition members particularly Brinda Karat (CPI-M), Najma Heptulla, Maya Singh (BJP)and Jaya Bachchan (SP).<br /><br />They sought intervention of the Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan, saying Naik should not be allowed to speak the language which, they said, was derogatory to women.<br />Khan asked the Goa MP to submit his Zero Hour text for examination and said the member was going beyond the subject he wanted to raise.<br /></p>