New Delhi: Mulayam Singh Yadav’s comment on Thursday has landed him into yet another controversy ahead of Lok Sabha polls. Social media has been abuzz with reactions condemning Samajwadi Party supremo’s comments. While addressing a rally at Uttar Pradesh,“Boys make mistakes. They should not hang for this. We will revoke the anti-rape laws,” said Mulayam.
The negative publicity the party received was further compounded when another senior leader Abu Azmi said, women who were raped should also be punished. Asked to clarify Singh’s comments, Azmi stated, “Rape is a punishable offence in Islam. But here, nothing happens to women, only to men. Even if the woman is guilty.” He went on to provide a solution to problem of rape, stating “Solution is this: any woman if, whether married or unmarried, goes along with a man, with or without her consent, should be hanged. Both should be hanged. It shouldn’t be allowed even if a woman goes by consent.”
There has been massive public outcry following these comments. While the parents of the Delhi gang rape victim said Mulayam does not deserve to be an elected leader, Congress and BJP have both asked Singh for an immediate apology. “Comments by such a senior leader are not only objectionable, but also sad and shameful. Mulayam’s remarks show that how much respect he has for women in his heart, and how irresponsible he is towards women’s security,” Congress leader Meem Afzal said.
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Angry reactions on social media have made #backingrapists and ‘Mulayam Singh’ the trending topics on Twitter.
@kiran Bedi: Such pol-leadership deserves not a single vote. Boys err at times, wrong to hang rapists: Mulayam Singh Yadav.
@BJP4India: Mulayam Singh Yadav statement is abhorrent & shocking
@Kanchan Gupta: Abu Azmi wants women hanged for going out with men, women punished for getting raped. Mulayam Yadav has worthy deputy. Left-liberal heroes.
@Weirdo_logical: People who r voting for SP ( Mulayam singh ) should directly shifted to lunatic asylum.
@dpanjana: First Mulayam Singh Yadav said rape is a mistake. Now Abu Azmi wants sexually active women hanged. Indian men, you have terrible spokesmen
@vivekagnihotri: Waiting for the day when a woman will walk up and slap Mulayam Singh Yadav.
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