BJP leaders’ criticism of rape-murder case ‘political puffery’: CM
: Rejecting the BJP senior leadership’s attack on his government and the Gandhis over the Hoshiarpur rape-murder case, Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Saturday termed the remarks of Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Prakash Javadekar as “political puffery”, with no substance or basis to support their criticism.
In a tweet, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman took a dig at Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi for not reacting to the Hoshiarpur incidence. She said the rape of the minor had not shaken the conscience of “the brother and sister who rush to every other place, which can help them politically”.
Reacting to the Tweet, the CM said contrary to what the leaders were claiming, there was no comparison between the Hoshiarpur and Hathras cases. He said he directed the DGP to ensure that the case is fasttracked by courts to ensure exemplary action against the accused. On the BJP leaders’ criticism of the silence of the Congress leaders on the Hoshiarpur case, Amarinder Singh said that his party had been forced to speak up and protest the Hathras case because the state had failed to get justice for the Dalit girl there.
Politicians make beeline to victim’s house
Political leaders, majority of whom are from SC community, and rights group activists have been making a beeline to the house of the rape victim who was burnt after the sexual assault. BJP minister Som Parkash, Punjab minister Sunder Sham Arora and SAD leader Jagir Kaur met the family.
Punjab minister Sunder Sham Arora announced five marla plot to the bereaved family to help them build a house. He also gave Rs 2.5 lakh to victim’ s parents for fixed deposit in the name of their daughters.
Remand of accused extended by 3 days
The accused, a farmer, and his grandson, were produced in the court that extended their remand for another three days. The police are under extreme pressure as the CM and right panels have directed them to speed up the trial and present the challan soon.