Goa- Pramod Sawant, the Chief Minister of Goa after being slammed for the blame he made on the rape survivors and their parents, and appeared to absolve his government and the police of any responsibility, said that his statement was taken out of context, and the safety of minors has to be a “shared responsibility”.
He said that he was deeply pained by the incident and would ensure that the accused in the case gets the most stringent punishment uner the law.
In a statement issued here on Friday, Sawant confessed that “my statement about the unfortunate incident was taken out of context.”
He added that “both – as the head of a responsible government and as a father of a 14 year old daughter, I was deeply pained and disturbed. The pain of this incident is inexplicable,” he added. The chief Minister said that he had not at all tried to deny the right to security provided by the law.
“Goa police has been a truly professional force especially when it comes to security of women and children. They have already acted swiftly and arrested the accused, and let me assure you that I shall ensure that the culprits get the most stringent punishment under the law,” he further added.
“Safety of children especially the minor ones has to be a shared responsibility. Our right to security has to be strengthened further with more cautiousness. Children, especially minors, need guidance of their elders,” he said.
“We all love our kids. Being the chief minister, my feeling of concern is extended to all the children of Goa,” Sawant said. He added that both as an individual and as the chief minister, he can never ever directly, indirectly or remotely hurt the sentiments of the fellow citizens of Goa.
“I put this on record today,” he said. Sawant claimed that there would be no compromise in matters concerning the safety and security of children. “Let there be no place for misunderstanding. Let us stand united. Let us trust each other. Let us stand united as one Goa so that all such evils can be defeated with all our might,” he added.
Sawant said that there is a curfew imposed in the state, and people are restricted at public places. “So, when I spoke about a shared responsibility for minor children, it was out of concern, care and love for my fellow citizens and our children”, he clarified.
