Congress leader O.P. Mishra called for immediate penal action against Dev. "The comments invite penal action under the relevant laws protecting the dignity of a woman. The administration should immediately take action," Mishra said.
Women's activist Saswati Ghosh said the comments were outrageous, an insult to women as a whole and demeaning to victims of the dreadful crime.
"It is outrageous and outrightly condemnable. It is most unfortunate for the people that a person like him is contesting. It won't be surprising if he even asks women to enjoy rape if unfortunately they become victim of the crime," Ghosh told IANS.