MP minister defends Mulayam, Akhilesh over Badaun rape

What can Mulayam and Akhilesh do to prevent rapes, asks Babulal Gaur, home minister of MP

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Babulal Gaur, home minister in the BJP government of Madhya Pradesh, Thursday defended Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and his father, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav over the Badaun rape case.

Calling the Samajwadi Party supremo and Uttar Pradesh's chief minister as "bechare (helpless)", Gaur said: "What can Mulayam and Akhilesh do (to prevent rapes)?"

Talking to reporters, Gaur said that "rapes happen when a man loses his mental balance".

Mulayam Singh Yadav Wednesday courted controversy after he told reporters, who sought his comments on the Badaun rape case, to focus on doing their jobs.

Two minor girls were gang raped and hanged from a tree in a village in Uttar Pradesh's Badaun district that led to widespread criticism of the state government over crime and violence against women.

"This (rape) is a human perversion. No one informs others before committing a rape, so that he can be apprehended. We can prevent someone (from driving) without a helmet on the streets to prevent accidents. There is no info about a potential rapist. It happens in an isolated area," said Gaur.

He added that "if a rape is committed and there is a report, then we can take action on it".

On Wednesday, Mulayam Singh snapped at reporters and said: "I am doing my job, you do yours."

"Strict action is being taken (in the case). What else can I say," he added.

His remarks came after his chief minister-son told reporters earlier that they should "Google" search the number of rapes happening elsewhere in the country and stop focusing on Uttar Pradesh.

Gaur Thursday termed rape as a "social crime" and advised women to take up "Judo-Karate" in order to defend themselves.