Women’s Commission Member Says Badaun Victim Shouldn’t Have Gone Out Alone, Later Withdraws Comment

National Commission for Women member Chandramukhi Devi on Thursday said that the gangrape and murder of a 50-year-old woman in Badaun, Uttar Pradesh, could have been avoided if she had not stepped out alone in the evening. The video of her statement has been widely circulated on social media.

“Women should not go out at odd times under the influence of any person,” Devi told reporters. “I think this incident would not have occurred if the woman had not stepped out of her house alone or had she been accompanied by a [male] child of the family.”

BIZARRE: NCW member Chandramukhi lectures women on timings of them venturing out, says the Badaun incident wouldn’t have happened had the women not gone out alone in EVENING!

She was sent by NCW to visit the kin of victim in Badaun. pic.twitter.com/jUpltuBtea

— Prashant Kumar (@scribe_prashant) January 7, 2021

Hours later, Devi withdrew her comments, saying that it was taken out of context, according to Republic TV. “I did not make the remarks in the context as it was being shown on various news channels,” she said. “But if it is being reflected in any manner that I am saying that women should not go out, I withdraw my comment.”

Before Devi’s clarification, NCW chief Rekha Sharma was questioned about the comments. Responding to a tweet by filmmaker Pooja Bhatt, Sharma said that she did not agree with the remarks of the commission’s representative. “I don’t know how and why the member has said this but women have all the right move on their will whenever and wherever they want to,” she said. “It’s [the] society and state’s duty to make places safe for women.”

No I don't..I don't know how and why the member has said this but women have all the right move on their will whenever and wherever they want to. It's society and state's duty to make places safe for women. https://t.co/WlG2DWs20G

— Rekha Sharma (@sharmarekha) January 7, 2021