South 24 Parganas, Aug 28 (ANI): Provoking a howl of protests in Bengal, a Trinamool Congress MLA on Thursday said rapes will continue to occur as long as the Earth exists. "There was rape earlier, there is rape today. As long as the Earth exists, there will be rape," said the Trinamool legislator Deepak Haldar. Haldar had made the comments at a public meeting in his constituency on Wednesday evening. Later, he said his intent was to raise awareness. The comments have received severe condemnation from various political leaders and women activists.