A member of the Uttar Pradesh Women’s Commission has asked mothers to keep tabs on daughters and check their mobile phones regularly to know with whom they talk.

“I keep saying this to everybody. There are many cases before me where the girl used to talk to a boy and then eloped with them. Their parents come to me for solution,” Meena Kumari told reporters in Aligarh on Wednesday.

“While we are trying to take strict action in such cases, the society should also keep a watch on it. The mothers must keep a close watch on their daughters —where do they go, which boy they hang out with, who do they talk with on mobile phones,” she said.

As the video of her statement went viral on social media on Thursday, the women panel’s member said she did not make any controversial statement.

“Whatever I said was based on facts. I have got some tapes (video clips) that girls made friendship with someone through mobile phones and got married. They posted their pictures on social media. So I said that the mothers of teenaged boys and girls should know with whom their children talk on mobile phones. They should check the mobile phones every evening. Parents come to me after they suffer because of all this,” she said.

Meena said her statements were mostly meant for innocent rural girls who were being trapped with the help of mobile phones.

“I am talking about both boys and girls. I am not against their using mobile phones. But the parents must see what they do with it,” she added.

Approached by reporters, Anju Chaudhary, vice-chairperson of the commission, tried to steer clear of the controversy.

“Whatever Meena Kumari said is her personal view. The commission shouldn’t be dragged into it,” she said.