"On Beach Whole Night": Row Over Goa Chief Minister's Remark In Rape Case

The comments triggered outcry from the opposition, who have demanded Pramod Sawant's resignation and said Goa has become more dangerous for women under BJP rule

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant - under pressure after the gangrape of two minor girls, and an attack on two minor boys, last week - has now been slammed for blaming the survivors and their parents, and appearing to absolve his government and the police of any responsibility. And CM should quit & go home for such preposterous ‘pearls of wisdom' ! pic.twitter.com/HV0uTNBbV0 In utterly shocking comments made to the Assembly yesterday, Mr Sawant blamed the parents for allowing their children to step out - they were on a beach 30 km from capital Panaji - late at night "When 14-year-old children stay on the beach the whole night, the parents need to introspect. Just because children don't listen, we cannot put the responsibility on the government and police," the Chief Minister, who also heads the Home Ministry post, declared. Mr Sawant said it was the parents' duty to ensure the safety of their children and that the girls should not have been allowed to leave home at night, particularly as they are minors.