Silence of PM, mantris on rape cases questioned

The Congress on Thursday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his silence over the Unnao rape case and questioned why the accused BJP MLA was yet to be arrested.

The Congress also asked whether the Prime Minister would observe a fast on the rising crimes against women under BJP rule in the

Will PM fast on crime against women, asks Congress.

country.

Earlier in the day, Union minister V.K. Singh reacted on the Kathua rape case, saying “we as humans” had failed the eight-year-old girl who was gangraped and killed but she would not be denied justice. This is perhaps the first reaction from a BJP minister on the issue.

While the Opposition slammed the BJP top leadership including ministers for its silence on the Unnao rape case involving a party MLA, several Union ministers sought to defend the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh facing criticism over its response to the alleged gangrape of the minor in Unnao, saying it is committed to protecting women.

The Congress on Thursday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his alleged silence over the Unnao rape case and questioned why the accused BJP MLA was yet to be arrested.

Showing pre-May 2014 tweets of Union ministers Sushma Swaraj and Smriti Irani in which they had attacked the then UPA government on crime against women, Congress' Kapil Sibal questioned the silence of these ministers. The Congress asked the Prime Minister to explain whether “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” is a slogan or a warning.

This is because BJP, earlier on Thursday, mentioned the Centre’s promise to the nation. “... When we say Beti Bachao, we really mean that. We are here to safeguard the interests of our daughters and we are committed to their safety. As far as Unnao incident is concerned, the law of justice will prevail,” Culture minister Mahesh Sharma said.

Mr Sibal questioned the prime minister’s silence on Kathua and Unnao rape incidents, saying Modi talks of Mahatma Gandhi but the latter never remained silent on such issues.

He also took a dig at Amit Shah, saying “he will only talk about animals and trees and things like that. What will he talk about? He is an animal lover, it is quite clear.”

Congress president Rahul Gandhi too described the rape and killing of the minor as “unimaginable brutality” that cannot go unpunished, and wondered how anybody can seek to protect the culprits. He also lashed out at the politics being played over the crime. “How can anyone protect the culprits of such evil,” he asked, adding that the violence against the child was a crime against humanity.