A Congress leader in Haryana has attracted flak for his controversial comment that most of the over 15 rapes reported in the state in the past month were “consensual”. Digambar Goyat has been asked by the party to explain his statement even as opposition parties have attacked the Congress.

Drawing flak: Goyat made his statement days after party chief Sonia Gandhi visited Jind district in the wake of the spurt of gang rape cases. Under attack, he tried to backtrack yesterday, saying he had been misquoted. Representation pic.