Delhi gang-rape: Politician-speak on gender bias in India

Even as millions across the country are trying to come to terms with the death of the Delhi braveheart who died of grievous injuries sustained during her battle against her rapists, here is a recall of the gender-insensitive comments our politicians made in the past few months, often courting controversies. Is it that irresponsible statements such as these mould people's psyche and response to a social crime like rape...

This is the same Mamata Banerjee who went to South 24 Parganas and brought Champala Sardar to Writers’ Building claiming she was raped. She takes up those hala fala girls (girls discarded by society). I told her if you want to bring some girls, bring some good girls. There is no better girl than you. We ask, Didimoni, how much will you take for getting raped?’’”
—Anisur Rehman, CPM leader

Those who claim to be students... I can see many beautiful women among them... highly dented-painted... they’re giving interviews on TV, they’ve brought their children to show them the scenes”
—Abhijit Mukherjee, Congress MP

Have you ever heard of a Rs50 crore girlfriend?”
—Narendra Modi, Gujarat chief minister

Bade gharon ki ladkiya aur mahilayan upar ja sakti hain...hamare gaon ki mahila me akarshan itna nahin...,”(Only girls and women from affluent class can go forward...remember this.you (rural women) will not get a chance...Our rural women did not have that much attraction),”
—Mulayam Singh Yadav, in context of Women Reservation Bill

Nayi jeet aur nayi shaadi ka apna mahatva hota hai. Jaise jaise samay beetega, jeet ki yaadein purani hoti jayengi; jaise samay beet-ta hai, patni purani hoti jati hai, voh maza nahi rehta hai.” (A new victory and new marriage have their own importance. With time, memories of victory dim. With time, wives lose their charm, there’s no enjoyment.)
—Sriprakash Jaiswal, Union minister

“Skirts should be prohibited keeping in view the rise of social crimes against women. The school should have pant-shirts or salwar suits as uniforms for girl students,”
—Banwari Lal Singhal, BJP legislator in Rajasthan writes to chief secretary

I don’t feel any hesitation in saying that 90 per cent of the girls want to have sex intentionally but they don’t know that they would be gang raped further as they find some lusty and pervasive people in the way ahead.”
—Dharambir Goyat, Haryana Congress spokesperson

“Poverty and intoxication are the main reasons for rape as well as young people sitting together the wrong way. But also eating chowmein causes a hormonal imbalance which is a big reason for rapes.”
—Jitender Chhataar, Khap leader

I think that girls should be married at the age of 16, so that they have their husbands for their sexual needs, and they don’t need to go elsewhere. This way rapes will not occur’.
—Sube Singh, Haryana Khap Panchayat member

“There is no need to give phones to women and children. It distracts them and is useless. Why do women need phones? My mother, wife and sister never had mobile phones. They survived without one”.
—Rajpal Saini, BSP leader

Some women wearing lipstick and powder have taken to streets in Mumbai and are abusing politicians, spreading dissatisfaction against democracy. This is what terrorists are doing in Jammu and Kashmir,”
—Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, BJP vice-president

Just because India achieved freedom at midnight does not mean that women can venture out after dark”.
—Botsa Satyanarayana, Andhra Pradesh Congress chief

One of the reasons behind the increase in incidents of eve-teasing is short dresses and short skirts worn by women. This in turn instigates young men.”
—Chiranjeet Chakraborty, Trinamool Congress legislator

"Rapes happening because men and women are interacting more freely”.
—Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal chief minister

International love guru Shashi Tharoor should get love affairs ministry.”
—Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, BJP spokesperson