'Rapes increasing because of women's clothing,' says BJP MLA in response to Priyanka's comments on hijab

The minister, M P Renukacharya, made the comments while responding to Priyanka Gandhi's tweet on women's clothing choices

Amid the ongoing hijab row, BJP MLA, M P Renukacharya, kicked up a controversy by saying that "rapes are increasing because of women’s clothes."

He made the comment while referring to Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi’s tweet, wherein she said: “Whether it is a bikini, a ghoonghat, a pair of jeans or a hijab, it is a woman’s right to decide what she wants to wear.”

Speaking to the media, the chief minister's political secretary, said, "Priyanka Gandhi made a low-level statement, to use a word like ‘bikini’. While studying in college, children should be fully clothed. Rapes today are increasing because of women’s clothes, as men get provoked. It's not right. Women have respect in our country."

Also Read — Burqa-clad woman praised by netizens for resisting saffron brigade

Demanding an apology from Priyanka, he said that "wearing bikinis is not Indian culture."

Students or women should wear bindi, bangles, earrings and nose rings; this is our culture, he said, adding, "Priyanka is not having knowledge about Indian culture. She is teaching us Italy's culture."

He also demanded the immediate banning of SDPI and Popular Front organisations. Later, realising his statement kicked up a row, he said he would apologise if his statement hurts anybody.

Watch the latest DH Videos here: