A Bharatiya Janata Party minister in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday described the stalking and sexual harassment of two members of the Australian women’s cricket team in Indore as a “lesson” for the authorities and the players, saying that the players should have informed the security personnel or the administration before stepping out, The Indian Express reported.
“Whenever a player steps out, just like when we step out, we tell a local,” said Kailash Vijayvargiya, the state minister for parliamentary affairs. “The players will also realise that in the future, if we step out, then we should tell the security or local administration.”
He added that cricket in India evokes a craze similar to football in England, and that players sometimes underestimate their popularity.
“This incident is a lesson for all – a lesson for us and for the players,” he told reporters.
The Congress criticised Vijayvargiya’s comment, describing it as “unfortunate and utterly disgusting”, The Indian Express reported.
Congress leader Arun Yadav said that the incident had already damaged the country’s image internationally and accused the BJP minister of attempting to deflect attention from what he described as deteriorating law and order in the state, IANS reported.
“Kailash Vijayvargiya remarks reflect his mindset and the mindset of those in power in the government,” Yadav added.
Vijayvargiya later told The Indian Express that strict action had been taken against the person accused in the matter and that the police had invoked the maximum legal provisions.
The minister said that even the players’ security officers were unaware that the cricketers had left the hotel.
“These are famous players, loved by the public, and sometimes people approach them unexpectedly,” he said. “They should pay attention to their personal security.”
The incident took place on Thursday morning when the two players were walking to a café near their hotel when a man, identified as Aqueel Khan, allegedly followed them on a motorcycle, touched one of them inappropriately and fled.
The man was arrested on Thursday night based on his motorcycle registration number, which a bystander had noted down.
Khan has been booked under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita pertaining to assault or use of criminal force on a woman with intent to outrage her modesty.
A court in Indore on Sunday sent Khan to 14 days of judicial custody, The Hindu reported.
The Australian team was in Indore for their ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup match against South Africa on Saturday.
Also read: Australian women cricketers’ harassment triggers political row in Madhya Pradesh
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