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Home  » News » Uproar over US Congressman's 'legitimate rape' remark

Uproar over US Congressman's 'legitimate rape' remark

By Lalit K Jha
August 22, 2012 11:07 IST
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Indian-American political leaders, contesting Congressional elections, are outraged at the remarks of "legitimate rape" by a United States lawmaker, which President Barack Obama had termed as offensive.

Despite being criticised by his own party men, Congressman Todd Akin on Tuesday declined to withdraw from the race of Missouri Senate defying the demand made by Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

"As a husband and the father of a young woman, I am outraged by these disturbing and offensive remarks," said Ami Bera, a Congressional candidate from California on the remarks of Akin, who sought to redefine rape as "forceful" rape.

Joining both Obama and Romney in their condemnation, Bera called upon his challenger incumbent Congressman Dan Lungren to denounce Akin's appalling comments.

"I call upon Congressman Lungren to renounce the bill he co-sponsored with Akin, which attempted to limit women's health care options by redefining rape as 'forcible' rape," he said.

Upendra Chivukula, the Democratic Congressional candidate from New Jersey, in a statement urged House of Representative Speaker John Boehner to remove Akin from the Congress.

In a recent television interview, Akin tried to justify his extreme opposition to abortion by saying that victims of "legitimate rape" rarely get pregnant.

Chivukula made clear that his challenger Leonard Lance should call on John Boehner to remove Akin from the House Science and Technology Committee.

"Republican Congressman Akin's comments were appalling, offensive and have no place in today's public discussion. Leonard Lance has a clear choice, does he stand with John Boehner and Todd Akin or the women of the 7th district," Chivukula demanded.

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Lalit K Jha in Washington
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