Union Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi is facing backlash for her bizarre statement saying curfew for girls in hostels are important as it protects themselves from their 'hormonal outburst'.
Speaking to NDTV, ironically during a show for celebrating International Women's Day, Gandhi said early curfew in hostels should be necessary as it is a matter of safety.
"As a parent who's sending a daughter to a college - or a son - I would expect her and him to be protected."
The minister who has been vocal in the past on gender equality issues further said that: "When you are 16 or 17 you are also hormonally very challenged. So to protect you from your own hormonal outbursts, perhaps a lakshman rekha is drawn. It really is for your own safety."
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On asked why boys should be treated differently, she said, "Yes, so maybe the same deadlines should be there for both boys and girls... Why should the boys be allowed to wander about in the campus after 6'o-clock? Let them also stay in and do their work."
Gandhi, in the past has shown her unrelenting stand on the issue of women empowerment and to eliminate 'all forms of discrimination' against women. She recently announced setting up of a compensation fund under the Nirbhaya scheme to provide help to children who are victims of sexual assault.
When asked whether the matter of 'security' could be solved by tightening security at women's colleges, she said "No, not by two Bihari gentlemen at gate with dandas (sticks). It has to be solved literally by giving time limits for everything.... Give them (boys) two nights to go to the library and two nights for girls -- if you want to go to library, that is."
