Rapes getting more publicity now: Hema Malini

In a shocking statement, veteran Bollywood actress and BJP leader Hema Malini on Saturday said that instances of rapes and crimes against women are receiving more publicity now. 

“Abhi jyada iska publicity ho raha hai aajkal. Pehle bhi shayad ho raha hoga maloom nahin tha. Lekin iske upar zaroor dhyan diya jaayega (Such cases are receiving more publicity now-a-days. Such cases might be happening earlier too, there was no info. But there will be focus on such issues),” the BJP lawmaker said.

“Aisa jo haadsa ho raha hai nahin hona chahiye, isse desh ka bhi naam kharab ho raha hai (Such incidents should not happen. It also reflects our country in a bad light),” she added.

The actress’ comments came amid massive protests across the country over the recent string of rape crimes against minors including horrific incidents from J&K’s Kathua, UP’s Unnao and Gujarat’s Surat. 

In Kathua, an eight-year-old girl from a nomadic community was brutally tortured, raped for weeks before being killed.   

In Surat, the body of the minor girl with 86 injury marks was found in Bhestan area on April 6. Post-mortem revealed that the girl was raped and tortured for at least eight days.