FACT CHECK: Actor-turned Chandigarh BJP MP Kirron Kher did not say rape is part of Indian culture

Hyderabad: A statement purportedly made by actor turned politician Kirron Kher is causing an uproar on social media.

A picture of BJP's Chandigarh MP is viral with the claim that she said, "Rape is part of Indian culture and tradition. We cannot stop it!"

A Facebook user posted a picture of Kher with text in Hindi superimposed on it.

(Archive post)

Click here to view a similar claim.

Fact Check:

This claim is misleading.

Newsmeter searched online if any such statement was made by her and found nothing. The only closest thing about Kher and her statement on rape dates back to 2018.

In 2018, Kher had passed a statement where she said a change in mindset can end such incidents. We found reports on the statement uploaded by news organizations ANI and 'The Times of India' from January 2018.

This statement was made in light of the rape incidents in Haryana in 2018. The Chandigarh Member of Parliament said the rape convict should be given capital punishment. She said that such incidents have been taking place for long-only change in mindset can bring a change. "Change in society starts from within a family," she said.

Similar news has been debunked by BOOM LIVE in 2019 where the remark on rape was reviewed with a misleading context.

Thus, it is clear that Kher never said rapes cannot be stopped because it is part of Indian culture and tradition.