Women's rights activists condemn Mulayam, Abu Azmi remarks

Women's rights activists Friday strongly condemned comments made on rape and women by Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and party leader Abu Asim Azmi.

While Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said Thursday boys commit mistakes, but should not hang for rape, his party's Maharashtra chief gave a new twist to the controversy Friday.

Agreeing with his party supremo, Azmi said: "...If any woman whether married or unmarried, goes along with a man, with or without her consent, should be hanged. Both should be hanged."

Reacting to these comments, women's rights activist Ranjana Kumari told IANS: "The Samajwadi Party is emerging as a party which is totally against women and their uplift. It is shameful that they are justifying rape. I don't expect Mulayam Singh Yadav to say something motivating or good for women."

"Abu Azmi's comment was also highly derogatory. Actually they don't understand young people's lifestyle. People should boycott them and the National Commission for Women should take up the issue and file an FIR against Azmi for making such ridiculous comments," she added.

All India Women's Congress (AIWC) president Shobha Oza said it was unfortunate that politicians talk in such an "insensitive" manner on issues related to women.

"It is very unfortunate that they talk in such an insensitive manner on grave issues like rape. One should abstain from handling issues like heinous crimes like rape in such a manner," Oza said.

Abu Azmi faced flak for his comments from even his daughter-in-law, Ayesha Takia, who is an actress.

Takia who is married to Azmi's son Farhan tweeted that she and her husband were "deeply embarrassed" and "ashamed" by his remarks.

She tweeted that she and her husband did not share Abu Azmi's mindset.