Team Herald
PANJIM: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday said Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant after facing backlash from the Opposition for victim shaming attempted a cover up by making a personal appeal.
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In a press release, the AAP stated, “This statement is not only misplaced but a poor attempt at cleaning up mess the Chief Minister created as the head of State. As a father, he should have been even more sensitive to the unfortunate incident, and should have offered full support to rape victims and their parents to tide over this difficult time. But instead, he absolved himself and his government of any and every responsibility, and put the blame on the victims and their parents.”
“Within last one week three cases of rape against women have been reported across the State. The perpetrators of the crime will only be emboldened if the Chief Minister blames the women and young girls,” the party added.
“It is shocking that instead of holding the culprits accountable and safeguarding Goan daughters, the Chief Minister has blamed the parents of the girls for the unfortunate incident,” said party’s Goa Convenor Rahul Mhambre.
“When he said – Is it right to be on the beach during wee hours? – the Chief Minister made his stand on the rape very clear. As the Chief Minister, is it his responsibility to protect the people, or to embolden rapists and culprits? If this was his way of apologising for his sexist and anti-women statements, it is already too late. By his stand on the rape, he has already sent out a message that the burden of safety lies on Goa’s women,” said AAP’s Adv Pratima Coutinho.
Adv Pratima added, “Nobody took your statement out of context. Now that you are exposed, you are trying to use emotions to fool Goans. Pramodbab, all parents love their daughters.”
Adv Sushma Gaude said, “Chief Minister Sawant covered up by saying that the pain of the incident is inexplicable because he also has a 14-year-old daughter. If you really could feel the pain of those parents, you should have visited them, but you constantly blamed them.”
Adv Sushma added, “If he cannot take responsibility for the safety of Goan daughters, Sawant should resign.”
