Politics over Ayodhya ‘rape’ case hots up, BJP delegation meets ‘survivor’ a day after bakery razed

Demanding an increase in the compensation for the alleged rape victim from the state government, the delegation assured the family that the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre and Yogi Adityanath-led BJP dispensation in Uttar Pradesh “will raze all such criminals to the ground”.

Rajya Sabha MP Baburam Nishad, who was part of the BJP delegation, said they would raise the issue in the Upper House of Parliament. “We have gone to the depth of the matter. We are going to report our findings to our central leadership in New Delhi. I will also expose in the Rajya Sabha the leaders with such a mindset,” Nishad told mediapersons after meeting the family.

Uttar Pradesh Minister of State (Independent) Narendra Kashyap and Rajya Sabha MP Sangeeta Balwant Bind also comprised the delegation.

Later, Nishad said he will request Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to increase the compensation for the victim from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 25 lakh.

Justifying the action taken against the key accused in the case, Narendra Kashyap said that they have assured the family that the Central and state governments will come heavily on such elements.

Sangeeta Balwant Bind claimed that her blood boiled when she heard the girl’s ordeal and alleged that the accused had committed similar crimes earlier too.

She said that the rape survivor’s father has passed away, and that the mother, a labourer, is taking care of her three daughters and a son, adding that CM Yogi Adityanath is standing with the girl “like her father”.

“The girl’s mother told us a few things about the incident. We were angry as the Samajwadi Party has stood with the person who has committed such a heinous crime,” Bind told PTI.

“We also came to know that the crime has been committed by the ‘nagar adhyaksh’ (city unit president) of the Samajwadi Party, and there was another person involved in this case who used to make videos and blackmail her. After speaking to some villagers, it was revealed that the SP’s ‘nagar adhyaksh’ had committed similar crimes earlier as well,” Bind alleged.

Referring to the demolition of an “illegal” property of the accused, Bind also said that the CM is giving a message that strict action will be taken against those involved in such crimes.

Nishad said the delegation will submit a report on the matter to K Laxman, the national president of the BJP’s OBC Morcha.

The police had on July 30 arrested Moid Khan, who ran a bakery in a locality in Ayodhya district, and his employee Raju Khan, in connection with the rape case. According to the police, Moid and Raju raped the girl two months ago and also recorded the act. The incident came to light after the girl was found to be pregnant in a medical checkup.

Meanwhile, speaking to mediapersons, Azad Samaj Party leader and Nagina MP Chandra Shekhar Azad opposed the “bulldozer action”, expressing apprehension about “innocents being victimised due to politics”. “My team visited the family and I even spoke to them. We want strict action against the accused. But at the same time, we want that no innocent is victimised because of political reasons,” said Chandrashekhar. “I do not support bulldozer action because crime is committed by an individual and an entire family should not be made to suffer,” he added.

Moid’s link with the SP was first raised by CM Adityanath in the state Assembly on August 1. Alleging that those accused of committing crimes were often associated with Samajwadi Party, he had said that Moid was from the SP and was also a part of the team of the local MP. H

He had also sought to know if the SP would take action against him.

The allegation by the Chief Minister drew a sharp reaction from the SP members in the Assembly. The CM met the victim’s mother on Friday and also suspended the police officials concerned.

Seeking justice for the victim, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav has sought the “DNA test” of all the accused, rather than just indulging in politics over the incident.

— With PTI inputs