Demand for BJP MLA’s arrest puts police, govt in a tight spot
Activists and oppn parties organise protests in Lucknow and other parts of UP
LUCKNOW: Activists and opposition parties organised protests on Thursday demanding the arrest of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, accused of raping a minor girl, and questioned the role of police and the government over “the inaction” despite registration of an FIR.
As per the FIR, Sengar, who represents the Bangarmau constituency, has been charged with rape, criminal intimidation and kidnapping of a minor girl. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was also slapped on him, under which an accused has to be arrested immediately.
Uttar Pradesh Mahila Congress and UP Youth Congress jointly organised a march from UP Congress Committee headquarters to the chief minister’s residence. However, the party leaders were stopped as they reached near Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg where the police had put up barricades.
A scuffle was witnessed between the police and Congress leaders who tried to cross the barricade. Many of them sat on a dharna and shouted slogans against the Yogi Adityanath government and the police.
President of the All-India Mahila Congress Sushmita Dev, who led the march, said they wanted to draw the attention of the people towards rising crime against women in the state.
“In Unnao rape case, the role of the police is highly questionable. They are allowing the MLA to roam freely despite being accused of committing a heinous crime. There is no rule of law in UP,” she said.
“The Yogi Adityanath government should be removed for failing to protect the women. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah should break their silence on the Unnao rape case. Women are facing harassment despite the PM’s slogan of ‘Beti bachao’,” Dev said.
Those who sat on the dharna there included party MLAs Aradhana Mishra, Aditi Singh, former MP Anu Tandon, All-India Mahila Congress general secretary (in-charge UP) Anupama Rawat and Indian Youth Congress general secretary (in-charge UP) BV Srinivas.
The leaders courted arrest and were released later in the day.
Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) president, Raj Babbar had demanded action against the MLA and said that the party would extend all help to the victim to ensure justice to her. Former member of the Uttar Pradesh Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Nahid Lari Khan said the accused should be immediately arrested once sections of POCSO Act have been added to the case.
“It is really surprising that despite an FIR, the MLA has not been arrested yet,” she said.
Khan said under Section 21-B of the POCSO Act, there was a provision for lodging of FIR against the police if they do not arrest the accused. “Police officials shielding the MLA should also be booked under the Act,” she said. Meanwhile, the All-India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) volunteers staged a protest at the general post office (GPO) in Lucknow to demand the arrest of Sengar.
In a tweet addressed to chief minister Yogi Adityanath, a student leader from Lucknow University Pooja Shukla threatened to stage a demonstration.
“Students and women will be forced to stage a demonstration against the government if Kuldeep Sengar is not arrested within 24 hours. A life of fear and cowardice in a state where the self-respect of women cannot be kept intact is not acceptable to us,” she said in the tweet.
The victim girl, who tried to immolate herself outside chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s house just a day before her 50-year-old father died on Monday, has said the politician should be arrested immediately and said she feared for her uncle’s safety.