Rahul refuses to apologise for 'rape in India' remark

Refusing to give in to the demand of the BJP over his “rape in India” remarks Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday (December 13) asserted that he will not apologies for his  remarks.

Talking to reporters in Parliament, he also alleged that the demand was orchestrated to deflect attention from the on-going impasse in the Northeast. “I have a clip on my phone in which Narendra Modi ji is calling Delhi a ‘rape capital’,will tweet it so that everyone can see. Just to deflect attention from protests in North East, this is being made an issue by BJP,” Rahul said.

Earlier, both Houses of Parliament witnessed commotion over his remarks thereby leading to the Lok Sabha getting adjourned repeatedly before it was adjourned sine die. More than 30 members from the BJP, including Sadhvi Pragya, were seen standing in the aisle and shouting slogans. Congress members, too, were in the aisle.

Tearing into Gandhi, Union minister Smriti Irani said he has insulted the women and people of India and claimed his remarks are like inviting people to rape women.

Demanding an apology from Gandhi, the minister said the remarks amount to political mockery and he should be punished. Her party colleague Locket Chatterjee said Gandhi had insulted women by making remarks that Make in India had become “rape in India”.

Rajya Sabha too got adjourned sine die at 1:20 pm. BJP members in both Houses demanded that Rahul Gandhi apologise for his remark. Gandhi had said at a poll rally Jharkhand on Thursday that Narendra Modi had said ‘Make in India’ but nowadays wherever you look, it is ‘Rape in India’.