video of two women being molested by a group of men

Bulandshahr

Women should stay away from places where they may be targeted: Azam Khan on Rampur molestation

NEW DELHI: After ain broad daylight in Uttar Pradesh's Rampur district shocked people earlier today, Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan fanned the controversy by saying girls should avoid places where they may be molested."Ladkiyon ko bhi aisi jagahon par nahi jaana chahiye jahan besharmi ka nanga naach hota hai (Girls should not visit places where they can be targeted by shameless people)," the Rampur MLA remarked.In the video, around 12 to 14 youths can be seen manhandling the women, even as they pleaded to let them go.The perpetrators filmed the entire episode and posted it on social media.Holding the Yogi Adityanath-led government responsible for the "growing lawlessness" in the state, Azam Khan claimed that crimes like rape, murder and dacoity were becoming increasingly commonplace."Maujada sarkar mein jitne balatkaar hue hain, hatya loot hui hai, isme koi hairat ki baat to hai nhi (The number of rape, murder and loot cases under the current government doesn't surprise me)," Khan said.He then went on to say that families should safeguard their womenfolk by keeping them in the house."Bulandshahr ke haadse ke baad har sakhs ko kamse kam apni ghar ki aurat ko, koshish karna chahiye ghar mein rakhen (After the Bulandshahr rape incident, every person should try to keep their women within the house only," the SP leader said.This isn't the first time the politician has made remarks seen as offensive or insensitive to victims of sexual assault. When the Samajwadi Party regime was criticized in light of the 2016gang-rape, Azam Khan had alleged the incident was a conspiracy to malign the government's image.The incident in UP's Rampur is startling, since the BJP government had launched 'Anti-Romeo' squads to check on eve-teasing in public areas, to ensure the safety of girls in the state.