Facing flak over the Kanker rape case, Chhattisgarh Home Minister Nanki Ram Kanwar has landed himself in a spot by saying that crimes against women were happening as their stars were "not in position"
"We have no answer to this rising spate of crimes against women. Stars are not in position," Kanwar told reporters.
"Harm can come on a person if the stars are in adverse positions. We have no answer to this, only an astrologer can predict," the state home minister said.
Kanwar's remarks on Monday came after opposition Congress in Chhattisgarh demanded dismissal of the Bharatiya Janata Party government over the issue of the alleged rape of minor inmates of a government-run residential school for tribal girls in Kanker district, which came to light following a complaint on Saturday.
Asked about the home minister's remarks, Chief Minister Raman Singh quipped, "Now, what do I say about this."
State Congress chief Nand Kumar Patel called Kanwar's comments "childish and vulgar".
A delegation of Congress leaders, led by Patel, had on Monday met Chhattisgarh Governor Shekhar Dutt and demanded dismissal of the state government, saying it has failed to ensure safety of the girls living in residential schools.
In a memorandum to the governor, the party said that everybody was shocked by the incident.
Two people, including a teacher, have been arrested for allegedly raping minor inmates of the government-run residential school, according to the police.
Accused Mannu Ram Gota, 24, a contractual teacher, was arrested on Sunday night from a forest area of Narharpur, Superintendent of Police Rahul Bhagat said.
He added that school watchman Deenaram had also been taken into custody for sexually abusing the girls for several months.
Medical examination has confirmed rape of nine out of the 40 students, he said.
The Chhattisgarh government has ordered a high-level probe into the incident and declared that stringent action will be taken against those who will be found guilty after the probe.
