Shinde's gaffe in RS, names rape victims

NEW DELHI: Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde today committed yet another gaffe when he named the victims of the Bhandara rape incident in Rajya Sabha which had to be expunged at the intervention of the Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley.

Pointing out the gaffe, Jaitley, a senior lawyer, said as per law the victims of rape, that too minors, are not identified and named and their identity should be kept a secret as per Supreme Court guidelines.

"I am sure it is an oversight...Three minor children are being named in the statement of the Home Minister. What should not have been done, has been done.

"Victims named should not have been named. Their names have come out and their identity disclosed. The Home Minister should withdraw his statement and a fresh one be laid in the House," said Jaitley.

Earlier, Shinde named the three sisters of Bhandara in Maharashtra, who were allegedly raped and murdered recently, in a written statement which was read out by him.

At first, Shinde could not not get the import of what Jaitley was pointing out.

P J Kurien, Deputy Chairperson who was in the Chair, told him that Jaitley has raised a very, very important point. The names of the victim should not have been disclosed. These names of victims are hereby expunged," he said.

Kurien directed the media also not to name the victims as listed out in the Home Minister's statement, saying if it is done it will be taken as a matter of privilege.

Shinde thanked Jaitley for pointing out the "inadvertent" error and sought to withdraw the names.