A Congress MP from Goa on Tuesday kicked up a storm in the Rajya Sabha for his remarks on rape.
The remarks by Shantaram Naik during the Zero hour angered the opposition, particularly the women members, who objected to his remarks that came when he was expressing objection to certain media reports on rape.
Naik blamed the media for highlighting the controversial case of a Russian woman in Goa, who alleged that she was raped earlier this month, by a politician in his car after she had dinner with him.
Naik said the electronic media was blowing the case out of proportions. While calling rape a heinous crime, Naik made a
remark that caused a furore. He was of the belief that rape can be read differently in different situations.
This led to protests by Brinda Karat (CPM), Najma Heptulla and Maya Singh (both BJP)and Jaya Bachchan (SP).
The members sought intervention of the Deputy Chairman K. Rahman Khan, saying Naik should not be allowed to speak language derogatory to women. Khan asked the Goa MP to submit his Zero Hour text for examination and said the member was going beyond the subject he wanted to raise. The Chair later expunged the remarks made by Naik.
“Whatever was spoken by Naik during Zero Hour does not form part of the proceedings and the statement made by Naik during Zero Hour stands expunged,” sources said.
{{/usCountry}}“Whatever was spoken by Naik during Zero Hour does not form part of the proceedings and the statement made by Naik during Zero Hour stands expunged,” sources said.
{{/usCountry}}