Five Bizarre Reasons Why Rapes Happen in India

What do chowmein and smartphones have in common? They are both responsible for rape! Yes. Read the list!

Smartphones, jeans, noodles are often blamed for the growing number of rapes in India. (Design: Aaqib Raza Khan/The Quint)

You’re not safe in your jeans. The television is a tool of molestation, and noodles? They kick up sexual urge in just under 2-minutes.

Disgusting as they may sound, these are ‘pearls of wisdom’ imparted by high-seated people, for real.

The motor-mouths went on an overdrive with their rhetorics, convincing people that everything and everyone, except the accused, is responsible for rape. Yes, even the victims got blamed.

Here’s a list of the five most bizarre reasons given by them.

“We should stop our girls from wearing jeans.” – Dahiya Khap Panchayat, Haryana

“Two-and-a-half-year-old getting raped, why? It’s because of smartphones. Even villagers can download things.” – Azam Khan, Leader, Samajwadi Party

“No one can touch a woman unless she asks for it. Item numbers in films create a bad environment.” – Babulal Gaur, Home Minister, Madhya Pradesh (BJP)

“Chowmein leads to hormonal imbalance, evoking an urge to indulge in (sexual) acts.” - Jitender Chattar, Khap Leader, Haryana

“People who eat more non-vegetarian food like chicken and fish have higher chances of molesting and raping.” – Vinay Bihari, State Minister, Bihar (BJP)

December 16 will mark three years since the horrifying gang-rape of Nirbhaya that shook the entire nation. The Quint is campaigning for the empowerment of women, asking them to speak out fearlessly, with #IAmNotNirbhaya.

Join the movement with your responses in the comments below.