As the world comes to grips with a heinous crime in India involving the sexual assault of players from the Australian Women’s Cricket Team, a senior Indian minister has drawn widespread criticism for his shameless remarks by downplaying the incident, suggesting the players should “learn a lesson” and be “more cautious” in the future.
The incident occurred on Thursday morning when two players left their hotel to visit a nearby café — just a day after Australia’s six-wicket win over England in the group stage. According to Indian police, the players were approached and inappropriately touched by a man on a motorcycle. Authorities later confirmed that the suspect, a 30-year-old man with a criminal record, had been arrested and charged under laws relating to sexual harassment and stalking.
However, the controversy took another turn over the weekend when Kailash Vijayvargiya, a senior BJP leader and minister in Madhya Pradesh, made remarks that appeared to place the blame on the victims. Speaking to local media, he said the incident should serve as “a lesson for everyone,” adding that “players are very popular, so they should be careful.”
“While there was a security lapse, it was also the players’ responsibility to inform local authorities before going out. They didn’t inform anyone,” Vijayvargiya said. “But they will learn a lesson from this incident and stay cautious in the future.”
His comments have sparked backlash online, with many social media users and commentators calling them “insensitive” and “tone-deaf,” especially at a time when India continues to grapple with high rates of gender-based violence.
Meanwhile, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia described the incident involving the Australian Women’s Cricket Team as “deeply regrettable and isolated,” adding that safety protocols for international teams would be reviewed and strengthened.
The episode has reignited debate about women’s safety in India and its suitability as a host for international events.
For now, the focus remains on ensuring the safety of all players during the ongoing Women’s World Cup and addressing the troubling attitudes that continue to surface in
