Rajasthan No.1 in rape cases because it's a state of men: Shanti Dhariwal

Rajasthan Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Dhariwal, while replying in the assembly on Wednesday, said the state "is at number one in rape cases", adding that "Rajasthan is the state of men".

"We are at number one in rape cases. There's no doubt. Why are we ahead in rape cases?... Rajasthan has been the state of men," Shanti Dhariwal said while speaking in the Rajasthan Assembly.

As Dhariwal made this comment, some MLAs sitting in the assembly could be seen chuckling in a video shared by BJP national spokesperson Shehzad.

Shanti Dhariwal's rape comment



sparked a controversy with Rajasthan BJP chief Satish Poonia, spokesperson Shehzad and National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Rekha Sharma condemning the minister.

Sharing a clip of Shanti Dhariwal speaking at the Rajasthan Assembly, Shehzad called Dhariwal's comments "shocking, disgusting, but not surprising". He also accused Dhariwal of "legitimising rape".

"Rajasthan's cabinet minister laughs and says in the assembly that Rajasthan is number 1 in rape because it is a "state of men" [mardon ka pradesh]. LEGITIMISING RAPE," Shehzad said.