A minister from the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh has sparked controversy after blaming two Australian women cricketers for a recent incident of sexual harassment in Indore.
According to media reports, two days ago, while walking from their hotel to a nearby café, two Australian women players were allegedly harassed by a man on a motorcycle, who touched one of the cricketers inappropriately before fleeing. Police later arrested the suspect involved in the incident.
However, instead of condemning the act, Madhya Pradesh Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kailash Vijayvargiya, who belongs to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), suggested that the players were themselves at fault.
“It was the mistake of the Australian women players to go out without informing anyone,” Vijayvargiya said, adding that the players should “learn from this” and be more cautious in the future. He also acknowledged that the incident pointed to a security failure.
The remarks have triggered strong criticism from the opposition Indian National Congress, which said the minister’s statement reflects the “regressive” mindset of the BJP government.
Congress leader Arun Yadav said, “The entire country is ashamed of this incident. Instead of supporting the victims, the minister is blaming them. This thinking is disgraceful and disturbing.”
The incident has reignited a wider debate in India on victim-blaming and women’s safety, particularly in public spaces.
