Just a month after the Hathras rape case, a 50-year-old woman was gang-raped and brutally murdered allegedly by a priest and two others in the Badaun district in UP.
After which, a member of the National Commission for Women, Chandramukhi Devi was sent by the Commission to meet the victim’s family members. However, what followed next was completely unexpected. While speaking to reporters after visiting the kin of the victim, the NCW member said,
This is a crime that has shamed humanity, but I would also like to say that women should not, under the influence of anyone, step out untimely. I feel had the woman not stepped out in the evening, or one of her children had accompanied her, the incident would not have occurred.
Women should not go out at odd hours, what ever may be the reason. I think, (If that) woman (from Badun) had not stepped out in the evening or if she had been accompanied by someone from her family, she wouldn't have been r@ped : Chandramukhi Devi, NCW member and former BJP MLA pic.twitter.com/H0WRfXpptR
— Ravi Nair (@t_d_h_nair) January 7, 2021
This statement was not only condemned by several women’s organizations, even NCW Chairperson reacted to this statement.
No I don’t..I don’t know how and why the member has said this but women have all the right move on their will whenever and wherever they want to. It’s society and state’s duty to make places safe for women. https://t.co/WlG2DWs20G
— Rekha Sharma (@sharmarekha) January 7, 2021
Netizens too were enraged by the statement and asked NCW to remove her from the Commission immediately.
Sick mentality and shameful comment from an office bearer of NCW. Disgraceful and utterly bizarre.😡
— Wg Cdr Gitika (R) 🇮🇳 (@gitika9) January 7, 2021
Chandramukhi Devi MUST be removed from the National Commision for Women immediately. @NCWIndia
— Shashank Arora (@ShashankSArora) January 8, 2021
Untill and Unless women like her change their mentality nothing will change.
— Soumya Mahadas (@MahadasSoumya) January 7, 2021
Such women who have the audacity to give such statements should be ashamed of themselves….being a woman how could you justify such horrible things or try to blame the victims🤬
— shab (@khans0308) January 8, 2021
She is such a shame to make this kind of statment!! Should be removed immediately
— Alkab Hussain (@alkab_hussain) January 8, 2021
Disgusting ..What is the eligibility for these people to be chosen as NCW members?
— krishna (@krishnaraotumu) January 7, 2021
“If people like Chandramukhi Devi were not allowed on @NCWIndia , or had some basic morals along with her, this shameful statement could have been prevented. ”
— Aamir Qutub (@aamirqutub) January 8, 2021
We can never stop rapes if we are not able to stop such people. https://t.co/XdqXSqCd9R
Women are asked to stay Indoors in Night instead of reaching to Moon. Very unsensitive utterance by NCW Member Chandramukhi Devi “I tell women again and again that they should never go out at odd hours under anyone’s influence” in Badaun Rape case. @NCWIndia
— pawan yadav (@pawanya78241485) January 9, 2021
This woman is a member of National commission for women & she is so insensitive and regressive!Instead of pulling up #UttarPradesh govt for complete failure of law & order,she is shaming the victim.
— Vidushi (@shaktividhi) January 8, 2021
This is highly offensive and this lady should apologise. #ChandramukhiDevi pic.twitter.com/KFBSGawZNa
WTF!!! This truly is nauseating. It’s unthinkable that someone has these kinds of ideas in their their head. She isn’t giving a solution. People like her are exactly the problem.
— VJ (@VJ290481) January 7, 2021
Shame
— Patil vijay deoram (@Patilvijaydeora) January 8, 2021
After facing criticism, Chandramukhi Devi denied making any such statement.
