Kathua rape case: 2 BJP ministers attend rally in support of accused
What took most people by shock was the fact that the two BJP ministers even addressed the crowd at the rally and called the police action against the rape accused as 'jungle raj'.
In Short
- The two minister were Chaudhary Lal Singh and Chander Prakash Ganga.
- Development has lead to controversy among alliance partners.
- An 8-year0old girl was raped and murdered in Kathua in January.
In what is turning out to be a major embarrassment for the Jammu and Kashmir government and the BJP, two serving state ministers were seen attending a rally organised in support of the accused in the rape and murder of an 8-year-old girl from Kathua.
Minister for forest Chaudhary Lal Singh and minister for commerce and industries Chander Prakash Ganga, both from BJP, attended the event organised by Hindu Ekta Manch, an outfit that has been protesting against the arrests in the case.
Also read: J-K: Tricolour used for protests seeking release of Kathua minor's rapist, CM Mufti horrified
The development has lead to a controversy even among the alliance partners.
"Deplorable that divisive politics is being played by some over the most reprehensible act of rape and murder of an innocent girl. Dangerous attempts of polarizing situation in otherwise tolerant and inclusive Jammu region over a dastardly act need to be discouraged," said Naem Akhtar, senior PDP leader.
Also read: In Haryana, the rape of a minor girl aged 12 or below is now punishable by death
Another PDP leader Syed Altaf Bukhari was quoted as saying that the PDP will quit the alliance if it fails to deliver justice to the victim.
What took most people by shock was the fact that the two BJP ministers even addressed the crowd at the rally and called the police action against the rape accused as 'jungle raj'.
I don't understand this investigation. Why they have arrested a 14-year-old, a 22-year-old, a 28-year-old and a 37-year-old. How is this possible?
"Where is the SSP of the area? I want to tell the police that this 'jungle raj' won't be allowed," said Chander Prakash Ganga while addressing the protesters.
"I don't understand this investigation. Why they have arrested a 14-year-old, a 22-year-old, a 28-year-old and a 37-year-old. How is this possible?" He added while questioning the entire police investigation.
The other senior minister Chaudhary Lal Singh could also be heard trying to brazenly support he agitators. "If you launch an agitation, do it with full force or sit at home. What's this Section 144? This one girl has died and there is so much of investigation. There have been many deaths of women here," said Singh.
If you launch an agitation, do it with full force or sit at home. What's this Section 144? This one girl has died and there is so much of investigation. There have been many deaths of women here.
Meanwhile the government has invited a lot of flak from the people over such a blatant show of support for protests against the police arrests.
According to reports, an eight-year-old girl, Asifa, was allegedly abducted, drugged, raped, tortured and killed in January.
The girl belonged to a nomadic Muslim tribe in Kathua district in Jammu and Kashmir and her body was found on January 17 after she was missing for seven days.
The police first arrested a minor boy in the case who confessed to the crime and later on also arrested two Special Police officers Deepak Khajuria and Surinder Kumar, for being part of the crime.
It was also reported that the accused in their confession had revealed that the crime was committed to scare the nomadic community away from the area.
Soon after the arrests, people belonging to the majority community formed the Hindu Ekta Manch which has been demanding the release of Khajuria.
The case is currently being handled by the crime branch of Jammu and Kashmir Police, however the agitators have been accusing the investigation team of bias.
Watch: 2 BJP ministers attend rally organised in support of Kathua rape case accused