Minister accused of victim blaming after Australia players assaulted

Many people accuse an Indian minister of victim-blaming after he said two Australian cricketers were “touched inappropriately” last week when they should have called the authorities before leaving their hotel.

The players were walking to a cafe in Indore, Madhya Pradesh state, on Thursday when the incident occurred. According to the police, the harasser was detained.

The incident, which has sparked a global outpouring of anger, was condemned by India’s cricket board.

Women’s harassment is a common practice in India, but the incident on Thursday caused national attention because it involved international players playing in the Women’s World Cup, a highly anticipated international competition.

The players were “approached and touched inappropriately by a motorcyclist” the morning after Australia beat England, according to Cricket Australia’s statement.

The harassment was quickly denounced by the Indian Board of Control for Cricket, calling it “a deeply regrettable and isolated incident.” Additionally, it pledged to “review the existing safety protocols and strengthen them as needed” to prevent future tragedies.

However, Vijayvargiya, the state’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government’s director of urban development, housing, and parliamentary affairs, appeared to be putting some of the pressure on the players to keep them safe.

We tell a local whenever a player leaves, just like we do when we leave. The players will also be aware that if we leave, they should inform security or the local administration, Vijayvargiya told reporters on Sunday.

He continued, warning that players should be cautious when leaving because they have a sizable fan base.

“In this country, there is a craze for cricket, just like there is for football.” Football players frequently have their clothes torn, so I’ve seen them do it. Because they are so well-known, players must be cautious whenever they leave.

Vijayvargiya’s comments have caused controversy in India, where many have accused him of being a victim-blaming, and the opposition’s politicians, media, and many citizens have criticized his statements.

Arun Yadav, the leader of the opposition Congress party, called his statements “disgusting and regressive,” while Chinmayi Sripaada, the singer, accused him of victim-blaming.

“BJP Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya basically says that women who travel to other cities or countries must be concerned about their own safety when they leave without telling anyone. She wrote on X, “It was really the women’s fault,” she said.

Such victim-blaming remarks from a public representative only add to the embarrassment, according to another user, “at a time when India’s image has already taken a hit as a result of this shameful incident.”

The minister chose to lecture the victims, which was tone-deaf and inappropriate for his position, rather than defend the city’s dignity and condemn the culprits.

Later, Vijayvargiya described the incident as “shameful” and claimed strict action had been taken, but added that the players should have informed the security guard before departing.

This is not the first time Vijayvargiya has made headlines for remarks that many people find offensive to women.