A shocking controversy has erupted in India after a state minister blamed Australian women cricketers for an incident of sexual harassment that occurred in the central Indian city of Indore. Kailash Vijayvargiya, the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs in Madhya Pradesh, stirred outrage by suggesting that the visiting players themselves were responsible for what happened — a statement that has been widely condemned as insensitive and victim-blaming.
The incident took place two days ago, when two members of the Australian women’s cricket team, who were in Indore for a training session and a series of friendly matches, were reportedly harassed while walking from their hotel to a nearby café. According to police reports, a man riding a motorcycle approached the athletes and inappropriately touched one of them before fleeing the scene. The cricketers immediately informed local authorities, and police managed to identify and arrest the suspect within hours using CCTV footage.
While the swift police action was widely praised, Minister Vijayvargiya’s remarks have drawn severe criticism. Speaking to local media, he claimed that “foreign women should be more careful about how they dress and behave in public places,” implying that the cricketers’ conduct might have provoked the incident. His statement has sparked outrage among women’s rights activists, sports officials, and ordinary citizens, many of whom accused the minister of trivializing sexual harassment and protecting perpetrators rather than victims.
Social media platforms across India and Australia lit up with condemnation. The hashtag #ShameOnVijayvargiya trended on X (formerly Twitter), with users demanding a public apology and disciplinary action. Several former Indian cricketers also expressed disappointment, noting that the Australian players were guests of the country and deserved respect and safety. “Blaming the victims is unacceptable,” wrote former India captain Mithali Raj. “The focus should be on ensuring justice and improving safety for women — not on making excuses for criminals.”
