‘It’s reality’: Ashok Gehlot defiant as Opposition criticise rape remark
India Today
Ashok Gehlot remained defiant after receiving criticism from the opposition for his rape remark. The Rajasthan chief minister defended his remarks, claiming he was only stating the reality.
A controversy has erupted over Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s statement that ever since the death penalty was introduced for rape, there had been a rise in assault victims being murdered by accused to prevent them from testifying.
Opposition parties, including the BJP and Aam Aadmi Party, as well as the Delhi Commission for Women, slammed Gehlot for his remarks. However, the Rajasthan chief minister defended himself.
Gehlot said, "What I have said is reality. It is the BJP that is creating an issue out of my comment."
"Capital punishment was for good intent but the one who rape, murder the victim in an attempt to escape from capital punishment," he added.
Speaking in Delhi on Friday, on the sidelines of the Congress protest against price rise, Gehlot had said, "After the Nirbhaya case, the demand to hang the accused gained momentum and, after that, the law came into force. Since then, there has been an increase in the cases of the murder of women after rape."
"Due to the law on the hanging of culprits after the Nirbhaya case, the incidents of murder after rape have increased. This is a dangerous trend being seen in the country," said the Rajasthan chief minister.
He also claimed that the trend of murder after rape has reached an alarming level across the country.
