”Women should not be allowed to work late hours” BJP MLC’s statement sparks controversy

Mysuru: BJP MLC Bharati Shetty sparked a major controversy with her women should not work late hours statement on Wednesday.

She took part in a debate on the Mysuru gang rape incident in the Council on Wednesday where she said that women should not be allowed to work late hours and also defended Home Minister Araga Jnanendra who had remarked that the girl (Mysuru case) should not have gone to a desolate place late in the evening.

She further said that a stringent new law, which allows for castration of criminals, is required.

However, the vice president of the Janavadi Mahila Sangha, K S Vimala, opposed the statement and said that whether it is overtime work or staying outdoors, restricting women is against their freedom.

Shetty’s statement also did not go down well with the Congress leaders. Congress chief whip M Narayanaswamy termed the suggestion as impractical and Opposition leader S R Patil said that her remarks are not in the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of a ‘Ram rajya’ where women’s safety is ensured.