Why Mulayam Singh Yadav is a terrifying sexist and women should be afraid of him

Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav has now proved beyond doubt that his moral compass is tilted against women, especially when the focus shifts on issues like safety and security. On August 17, while distributing e-rickshaws in Lucknow, he again made an outrageous remark saying that it was impossible for four men to rape a woman together.

Quoting the Badaun rape case, he claimed it was blown out of proportion. "The CBI probed the case and found out that rape was not committed at all. They were cold-blooded murders by the victim's cousins for property. But even senior leaders like Congress president Sonia Gandhi's son Rahul rushed to Badaun and attacked the state government at the law and order front… Innocents must not be implicated and harassed. There are cases, where a victim has accused four brothers of raping her. It is impossible for four people to rape someone together. It is not practical," he said.

Going by his theory, all gang rapes which have happened in the past - including the Nirbhaya case in the capital - are not "practical". According to Mulayam, the rate of rape cases was lowest in UP as compared to other BJP-ruled states. "Here the rate of rape cases is only two per cent, while in Madhya Pradesh it is nine and in Rajasthan it is seven. In Delhi the situation is worse," he said.

It is not the first time that the SP chief has offended not only the women by his shameful sexist comment but also humanity at large. He has now become habitual in humiliating women by his remarks. It will not be a surprise if he says something similar or even more shocking in future.

Listed below are shocking quotes of him in the recent past:

Lucknow, July 2014

"If anywhere such crimes (rapes) are minimum, it is in UP. The state has a population of 21 crore. Considering that, such incidents are very less."

Moradabad, April 2014

"Ladkiyan pehle dosti karti hain. Ladke-ladki mein matbhed ho jata hai. Matbhed hone key baad usey rape ka naam de deti hain. Ladkon sey galti ho jati hai. Kya rape case mein phaansi di jayegi?"

(First girls develop friendship with boys. They when differences occur, they level rape charges. Boys commit mistakes. Will they be hanged for rape?)"

Barabanki, November 2012

"... Bade ghar ki ladkiyan aur mahilaaon ko fayda milega... Humari gaon ki gareeb mahilaaon ko nahin... akarshak nahi hoti... bas itna kahoonga... zyada nahi..."

(The Women's Reservation Bill in its present form would only benefit rich and urban women...our poor and rural women are not attractive...I will not say beyond this)."

New Delhi, March 2010

When the Women's Reservation Bill was tabled in the Rajya Sabha for approval, Mulayam said: "The Women Reservation Bill, if passed in present format, would provoke young men to whistle in Parliament."