Opposition hits out at Yogi govt

LUCKNOW: The alleged gang rape and murder of a 50-yearold woman in Badaun set off a political storm with the Opposition parties targeting the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the incident.

While Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati tweeted on the issue, demanding strict action against those accused of subjecting the woman to brutality, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi said the Badaun brutality was s a sequel to a similar incident in Hathras, where a 19-yearold woman was gang raped on September 14 and succumbed to her injuries in a Delhi hospital on September 29.

“In Hathras, the government machinery didn’t listen to the victim’s family. It shielded officers and curbed (protesting) voices. In Badaun, the police station in-charge didn’t listen to the victim’s family and didn’t even bother to visit the scene of crime. The UP government isn’t serious on the issue of women security,” Priyanka tweeted.

The Congress demanded a judicial probe by a sitting High Court judge into the incident.

Congress leader Alka Lamba said, “The Badaun incident is shocking and serious, as it comes close on the heels of Hathras gang-rape case.”

“We demand that the main accused in the case be arrested within 24 hours,” she added.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said the post-mortem examination of the victim had revealed horrific facts. “After gang rape, the woman was subjected to inhuman brutality. The BJP government shouldn’t make any effort to save the culprits. We demand full justice to the victim’s family. The BJP government’s misgovernance shouldn’t aid the criminals,” Yadav tweeted.

In a tweet, Mayawati said, “The gang rape and murder of a woman in Badaun is most unfortunate and most condemnable. The state government must take the issue seriously and ensure that the guilty get befitting punishment. The punishment should be such that acts as a deterrent, this is what the BSP demands.”