Taapsee, others criticize NCW member's comments about Budaun gang-rape
What's the story
Several Bollywood actors, including Taapsee Pannu, Pooja Bhatt, and Urmila Matondkar, have slammed a National Commission for Women (NCW) member over her controversial comments about the recent Budaun gang-rape case.
The member seemingly adopted a victim-blaming tone, while discussing the horrific rape and murder of a woman.
The actors took to Twitter to condemn her remarks.
Here are more details on this.
Context
What did the NCW member say?
On January 7, the NCW member Chandramukhi Devi opined that the rape and murder of the 50-year-old woman could have been avoided if she had not stepped out at night alone.
In a video that has gone viral on social media, she can be seen telling reporters, "Women should not go out at odd times under the influence of any person."
Quote
She was sent to meet the victim's kin
Chandramukhi, who was reportedly sent by the NCW to visit the victim's family, further added, "I think this incident would not have occurred if the woman had not stepped out of her house alone or had she been accompanied by a child of the family."
Reactions
'Wow, we are in 2021 right?'
Many Bollywood actors called out the NCW member over her remarks about the rape case.
Taapsee took to Twitter and wrote, "If people with her kind of thinking did not exist in this country toh aisi ghatna nahi hoti (then this incident would not have happened). #Hopeless #Shame."
Model Diandra Soares said, "Wow. Really just wow. We in 2021 right? (sic)"
Twitter Post
Sad and unfortunate, said actor-politician Urmila Matondkar
This mentality is what needs to change from within..n till then there is no hope of betterment 🙏🏼 How can women only victimise other women like this..sad n unfortunate
— Urmila Matondkar (@UrmilaMatondkar) January 7, 2021
@NCWIndia @sharmarekha https://t.co/xMNE9yFUJ2
Reaction
Pooja slams Chandramukhi, seeks clarification from NCW chief
Pooja, irked with the comments, tagged NCW chief Rekha-sharma'>Rekha Sharma and asked her if she stood by the statement.
"Kindly clarify if you agree with your representative that the victim was at fault for stepping out to visit a temple unaccompanied," she said.
Rekha responded saying she doesn't stand by the statement and added that women have the right to "move on their will."
Twitter Post
You can read their tweets here
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
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I take my words back, Chandramukhi said in fresh video
After the criticism over her remarks, Chandramukhi issued another statement but did not apologize for her comments. In a video, she said, "If something like this is being reflected from my statement, then I take my words back...This is not what I had meant (sic)."
Incident
A brief about the horrific rape case
On Sunday, a 50-year-old woman was gang-raped and murdered in the Budaun district of Uttar Pradesh.
The victim was sexually assaulted and killed by three men, after she had gone to a temple.
The main accused, identified as Satya Narayan, a temple priest, was arrested on Thursday night. The other two men, who are said to be his followers, were arrested earlier on Tuesday.