Outrage as Indian minister says ‘these things happen when girls dress like Westerners’ after sickening New Year’s Eve sex attacks
Equality figures call for Dr G. Parameshwara to resign after his sickening comments over sex assaults in Bangalore
AN Indian politician has caused outrage after blaming sexual assault victims for "dressing like Westerners".
Home Minister in the state of Karnataka Dr G. Parameshwara sparked fury after saying a group of women allegedly groped on New Year's Eve had their outfits to blame.
He said: "A large number of youngsters gathered - youngsters who are almost like Westerners.
"They try to copy Westerners not only in mindset, but even the dressing, so some disturbance, some girls are harassed, these kind of things do happen."
His controversial comments came after a mob allegedly sexually assaulted several women in the city of Bangalore on New Year's Eve.
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Police have yet to make any arrests over the incident.
But Parameshwara's remarks have led to calls from equality chiefs for him to step down.
Lalitha Kumaramangalam, chair of the National Commission for Women said: "I want to ask this minister: are Indian men so pathetic and weak that when they see a woman in western clothes on a day of revelry, they get out of control?
"When will the Indian men learn to respect women? The minister should apologise to the women of the country and resign."
Parameshwara has since claimed he was misquoted.
India has been hit by a series of high-profile sexual assault cases in recent years.
Mass demonstrations broke out when a women died following a gang-rape on a New Delhi bus.
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