'Women shouldn't roam the streets at night just because we got independence at midnight'

Hyderabad: As the outrage over the Delhi gangrape incident continued, the chief of Andhra Pradesh unit of Congress on Monday courted controversy over his remark that women should not "roam" the streets in the night just because India got Independence at midnight.

"Do we roam in streets at midnight as we got Independence at midnight? It would have been better if the girl did not travel by a private bus at that time," the AP Congress Committee President Botsa Satyanarayana told reporters in Hyderabad.

However, realising the possible fallout of his remarks, Satyanarayana, who is also the state Transport Minister, hastily re-convened a press conference and retracted his words.

However, realising the possible fallout of his remarks, APCC chief hastily re-convened a press conference and retracted his words.

"As a father myself, I only tried to express my anguish," he clarified.

"What happened was very unfortunate and I strongly condemn it," he said, referring to the horrific gangrape incident that has numbed the nation.

He also expressed his regret for having hurt the feelings of women and said the government should ensure safety and security of all.

The gangrape of a 23-year-old physiotherapy student in a moving bus in South Delhi on the night of December 16 has triggered protests across the country with New Delhi being the epicentre of the demonstrations.

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