‘Govt gave aid to rape accused’
MP HOSTEL RAPES Cong cites letter as proof that owner received govt funds
The Congress on Sunday said it has “proof” that the Madhya Pradesh government assisted one of the hostels run by Ashwini Sharma, the man who has been arrested for allegedly raping four women at another hostel meant for hearing- and speech-impaired. The Congress’ claim comes at a time the ruling BJP in Madhya Pradesh has been trying to distance itself from Sharma, who will remain in police custody until Monday.
Congress’ state vice-president Bhupendra Gupta produced a purported copy of an official letter dated December 28, 2016 from the director of the social justice department, Ajit Kumar, to the joint director in which the former wrote that Kripalu Boys Hostel (run by Sharma) be given ~1,800 per student every month to meet the nutritional needs of 74 specially abled students at Industrial Training Institute (ITI), Bhopal.
The purported letter goes on to say that this assistance was being given “under a special scheme” for differently abled students studying in the ITIs and was meant for the year 2016-17.
On Saturday, a fourth woman at the hostel for speech- and hearing-impaired lodged a complaint of rape against him, four days after a 20-year-old came out against the rape and abuse. Sharma was arrested on Thursday, the day two other women lodged complaints of molestation against him in Indore.
Congress leader Gupta cited social justice minister Gopal Bhargava as saying that the government did not give any assistance to Sharma. The letter, Gupta said, is proof to the contrary, and demanded his resignation.
“I have been misquoted. Also, my officials never informed me that we had given any assistance to this person. There are so many organisations getting assistance. We know some of the big ones and it is not possible to monitor all. I have not seen the document which the Congress is showing, but I will ask my officials to look into it,” Bhargava said.
› There are so many organisations getting assistance. We know some of the big ones and it is not possible to monitor all GOPAL BHARGAVA, social justice minister in Madhya Pradesh govt