Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh’s minister of child and women’s welfare, Aruna Kori, on Sunday courted controversy by saying that society and not the government should not be blamed for rising crime against women.

“We have sought a report on the whole incident (Badaun rape). Such incidents have been taking place in all regimes and it is the society, not the government, which is to be blamed,” she said.

Meanwhile, CM Akhilesh Yadav announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the minor girl who was raped by two constables in Badaun district on December 31. The state government has also asked the special task force to track the accused constables who are now absconding and arrest them at the earliest.

Reacting to the minister’s remarks, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said, “It is absolutely appalling wh-en a woman minister does not understand the pain of a woman who has undergone a gory crime like rape... She is trying to shift the onus from the administration to the women and the society.”

The Delhi Commission for Women, Barkha Singh, also criticised the minister saying, “Society as well as the culture and a particular person’s mind are responsible... But our police and our government has an equal role to play.