BJP asks Akhilesh govt to transfer Bulandshahr case to CBI

The party also lashed out at Azam Khan who reportedly said the incident was an outcome of political conspiracy against it

Accusing the Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh of "protecting and appeasing" criminals ahead of the Assembly polls, BJP on Tuesday asked Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to transfer the Bulandshahr rape case to the CBI if he has any "shame" left.

The saffron party also alleged that the SP first "appeased" Muslims to get votes and was now looking at criminals through the prism of castes and religions and "appeasing" them.

Addressing a press conference, BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma also hit out at the state government over its minister Azam Khan's reported comments that the Bulandshahr rape was an outcome of political conspiracy against it. It shows how low the ruling party can stoop to for votes, he said.

He also reeled out the state's crime figures between March, 2012 and March, 2016 to claim that criminals are emboldened under the SP rule while people, especially women, live in fear.

UP tops the list in crime against women, he said, adding that 2,920 cases of rape were reported during these four years, besides 12,198 murders and 6,015 robberies.

"Azam Khan has politicised a horrible incident like this. It shows how low this governments and its leaders can stoop to get votes. If Akhilesh Yadav has any morality and shame left, then he should order a CBI probe so that the victims can get justice," he said.

He shared details of cases in which Dalit women were sexually assaulted and questioned if these were also a political conspiracy.

Sharma cited comments of a number of SP leaders, including its president Mulayam Singh Yadav, as he accused them of repeatedly making insensitive remarks against women.

The SP chief had defended some rape accused, claiming that boys commit small mistakes at times and they cannot be hanged for that, he said.

Taking a dig at those who returned their awards over the issue of intolerance, Sharma said they should break their silence over the rape of a woman and her daughter in Bulandshahr.

"Their silence is shameful. Why are they keeping quiet? They should speak over such a horrific crime," he said.