Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MLA Lobin Hembrom is facing flak after he sought to link various social evils, including rape, to parents failing to notice the bad habits of their wards and increased used of mobile phones.
The comments by the MLA came in the wake of the recent gangrape of an 11-year-old in Dumka district.
According to media reports, the legislator from Borio, who was addressing a press conference in the bypoll-bound Dumka, blamed daughters of parents for the rising cases of rape. “The rising incidents of rape and gangrape are testimony to the negligent approach of parents towards their daughters. They allow their daughters to move out of home even after evening," the MLA was quoted as saying.
He said parents do not say anything when the youngsters consume alcohol and weed, and added that everyone has mobile phone now and boys and girls talk over the phone often. "Are the parents and guardians not responsible if a girl goes out in the evening? They come out of slumber when such incidents take place,” the MLA reportedly said.
Slamming Hembrom, BJP leader Pratul Shahdeo said it was shocking to hear a lawmaker making such irresponsible statement and added that "it is almost like Talibanisation of Jharkhand."
In a feeble attempt to defend its MLA, JMM general secretary Vinod Pandey claimed that Hembrom merely sought to point out certain evils in the society and added that leaders from the party spoke to the MLA and were convinced by his explanations.
