New Delhi/Kanpur/Muzaffarnagar, Oct.22 (ANI): Leaders of the Samajwadi Party (SP) on Monday denounced the sexist remark of Bahujan Samaj Party lawmaker Rajpal Singh Saini stating that mobile phones should not be given to girls.
While speaking to a gathering in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar District, Saini had said that his mother and sisters did not have mobile phones during their childhood and that it did not make any big difference.
Terming Saini's comment to be ridiculous, Samajwadi Party secretary Kamal Farooqi told reporters in New Delhi that technology has led to modernisation and it is very important for girls as well as boys.
"It is very unfortunate that a member of parliament is making a statement. He does not know what this technology has revolutionised the whole thing. Well, our youth is taking full advantage of this technology and more particularly if he is talking about girls or women folk it is very very important for them to remain communicable with their dear and close relations. So, I do not know in what context he is talking but if whatever his statement you are saying is correct, it is really ridiculous.
I have no words to condemn these kind of statements," said Farooqi.
Saini said that once he had advised a poor man, who was already upset by the abduction of his daughter, that it was wrong to give mobile phones to girls.
Another Samajwadi Party leader Ramashray Kushwaha said the comment reflected the narrow-mindedness of Saini.
"It is very shameful and reflects the narrow-mindedness of the leader of regional Bahujan Samaj Party, Rajpal Singh Saini made a statement and in the present context there is no difference between girls and boys. I am also seeing that girls are progress in each and every field. He is the leader of that party whose supremo is female and if these facilities were not provided to women and girls and if the supremo would not have been provided with education then she would not become the leader of such a big political party," said Kushwaha.
Earlier this month, Congress leader Dharamvir Goyat had blamed women for the surge in rape cases, adding that 90 per cent of rapes were infact consensual.
In 2011, 24,206 rape cases were reported, according to India's National Crime Records Bureau - a figure which gender rights activists say is a gross under estimation. (ANI)