An Indian politician sparked debate after she stated that women should be permitted to murder men who attempt to rape them or otherwise display "rapist tendencies."
Rohini Khadse, head of the women's wing of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-SP), wrote a letter addressed to Indian President Droupadi Murmu sent on International Women's Day in which she shared her thoughts regarding persecution for women who kill rapist men, reported The Times of India.
The March 8 letter outlined the goals of women in India, indicating that they "want to kill the oppressive mentality, the rapist tendency, the inefficiency of law and order," which can be achieved by being permitted to kill men.
"We hope our demand will be granted after giving it a serious thought," she added.
Khadse pointed out that the consistent oppression and dehumanization of women occurring in India could be subverted by violent responses from women. Her letter came just days after a 12-year-old girl was brutally raped by multiple men in Mumbai.
"The incident happened two days ago in Mumbai - think what the situation might be across the country," Khadse wrote, including data from a World Population Review Survey that ranked India the most unsafe country for women in Asia.
Khadse's party is strongly opposed to the government of the current ruling party, the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, under whom reports of sexual assault and other incidents of violence against women have skyrocketed.
"Women are being pushed against the wall with nobody coming to their help," NCP-SP spokesperson Clyde Crasto told The Times in defense of Khadse's statements. "Khadse is vocalising the anguish in the minds of women."
Originally published on Latin Times
