In a shocking statement came from the law-maker, Karnataka Home Minister KJ George on Friday has sparked off a massive controversy by making an irresponsible statement that 2 men raping a woman should not be considered a gangrape. George said, “How can you call it a gang rape? A gang rape is when four-five people are involved. We should condemn the people who did such an act.”

The minister made the controversial statement after media sought a response from him over the alleged rape of a BPO employee which happened earlier this week. The 22-year old woman was gang raped by the driver and a helper in their moving van after they offered to ferry her home last Saturday in south-east Bangalore when the woman is returning from the work around 10 PM.

The woman, who hails from Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh, was waiting to hail a bus to return to her PG home and boarded the van which stopped by offering her a drop on the night of October 3.  Nearly three hours, the two men drove around deserted places of the Madivala area and allegedly gang-raped the woman, City Police NS Megharikh said, adding the victim was taken to a deserted spot before she was dropped in Madiwala area here.  The 2 men were the vehicle’s driver and the cleaner.

In another controversial statement, the SP chief had remarked that “four boys cannot rape a girl. It is impossible. One commits rape and then four more are named.”

Condemning the statement, National Commission of Women Chairperson Lalita Kumarmangalam said, “Karnataka Minister is another example of someone not understanding issue of violence against women yet commenting on the matter thoughtlessly. Leaders in public life, especially those from political parties should think before talking. We will send him a suo moto, let’s see how he replies.”