Vibha Rao denies making controversial statement

Vibha Rao denied making the controversial remark that women are `equally responsible` for the sexual offences committed against them.

Raipur: Vibha Rao, the chairperson of Chhattisgarh State Women Commission, on Saturday denied making the controversial remark that women are ``equally responsible`` for the sexual offences committed against them.

"Actually, I would never say like this. Both women and men are equally responsible to protect themselves, but no permission is given to the men to commit a crime. Women must remain perfect for self-defence that is a entirely a different issue, but men should not decide as to what should be the limits of the woman," she said. Rao also called for strengthening of laws and a change in the mindset. "Women, influenced by western culture, send wrong signals through their dress and behaviour and men often take the cue from those signals. Women display their bodies and indulge in various obscene activities. Women are unaware of the kind of message [their actions] generate," a newspaper quoted her as saying earlier. Vibha Rao`s statement came at a time when the nation is mourning the death of the 23-year-old medical student who was brutally assaulted and gang-raped on a moving bus in the national capital on December 16 last year. ANI