NCW member says her statement in Badaun case was misconstrued

Clarifying her statement on Badaun rape and murder incident, member of National Commission for Women, Chandramukhi Devi said that her statement was interpreted differently while it was in reference to that particular incident. She had earlier said the Badaun rape and murder incident could have been avoided if the victim had not gone out in the evening.

New Delhi: After multiple women’s organisations of the country condemned the remarks made by its member Chandramukhi Devi on the Badaun rape and murder case, she said her statement was interpreted wrongly as she was referring to the particular incident in Badaun.

She had earlier said that the Badaun rape and murder incident could have been avoided if the victim had not gone out in the evening.

Giving clarification on the statement, Chandramukhi told ETV Bharat that she had made a remark that women should never go out at odd hours under anyone's influence, but it was interpreted differently, adding that she had not made the remarks to demean the prestige of women.

"Everyone knows that I have always been a supporter of women. I want women to be educated, self-reliant. I just said that if she had not gone out at such an odd time then this incident could have been avoided," she added.

On Sunday, a 50-year-old Anganwadi worker who had gone to a temple was found dead under mysterious circumstances. Her family members have accused the temple priest and his aides of raping and murdering her.