In a remark that was certain to kick up controversy, Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav on Tuesday said that it was not “practically possible” for four  people to commit rape.

Mulayam’s remarks came while speaking at a function here organised on the occasion of launching of free E-Rickshaw scheme of the state government. “One person commits the offence of rape and the victim implicates four people in her complaint...is it practically possible?,” the SP supremo said as he sought to claim that the incidents of rapes in UP were less in comparison to many BJP-ruled states.

He alleged that there was a deliberate attempt to tarnish the image of UP in the country by exaggerating the incidents of rape.

“The incidents of rape in UP is a mere two per cent of its population of 21 crore....this percentage is much more in MP and Rajashtan”, Mulayam claimed. The SP leader, however, said that the state government should take measures to prevent rape cases in the state.