'Can't deploy police outside every house to stop rapes' says Rajasthan Minister

Rajasthan health minister and senior BJP leader Kalicharan Saraf on Wednesday made a controversial statement saying that police cannot be deployed outside each house in the city to stop incidents of rape. He was answering a question related to the rape of a four-year-old girl by one of her father’s helpers in Jaipur on Saturday.

Saraf who went to JK lone hospital to meet the victim told media, "Should government deploy police outside every home? Why should we hold police responsible if a Jeweller's servant who has access to the house enters and rapes his daughter?."

The health Minister was replying to media questions about Congress President Sachin Pilot statement that the government should be held responsible for rise in rape incidents and crime against women.

"Their allegations are baseless and they are pretentious. Do they want to make a statement that no rapes took place during their tenure", Saraf added. Saraf who also met the doctors in the hospital assured that victim is being provided best-possible treatment.

Pilot Condemns Saraf's remarks

While condemning Saraf's remarks, Congress President Sachin Pilot told DH, "The minister has not only made a controversial remark but its a irresponsible statement coming from a senior leader. Rajasthan is at the third position in cases of atrocities against women, Instead of trying to bring down the crime rate which has increased during BJP's tenure they are showing an insensitive approach. Ministers are public representatives and in such sensitive cases, people expect the government/administration to  console them but such remarks from responsible people certainly hurt public sentiment."

On Saturday a four year old girl was raped by a 19-year-old servant who visited the house for regular work. The minor who was found injured by her parents who then took her to a hospital. Medical examinations conducted in hospital confirmed that minor has been sexually assaulted.