BJP on Mumbai gang rape: Society is breaking down under bad governance

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday blamed the ruling Congress for the appreciation of crime rates in the country and said that they have full faith that the law would take its course in the case of a young photojournalist who was brutally gang raped in Mumbai last evening.

"Maharashtra was known for a better law and order situation and it was always known (as a place) where such incidents were a rarity. Ever since Congress NCP Governments have taken over, such incidents have become commonality," BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi said in Chennai.

Moreover, Lekhi compared the brutality of the Mumbai gang rape to the gang rape of December 16, 2012 in New Delhi.

"The brutality of this case is a grim reminder of Nirbhaya's case, as to how unsafe young girls and women are in our cities. Society is breaking down under the bad governance issues," Lekhi said.

"They should, those who are in a position of power, act and bring correct investigation to the forefront and catch the culprits because these are highly objectionable criminal matters. Crime needs to be curbed and, especially, women need to be made secure. This is a really horrible and terrible case," she added.

BJP General Secretary Rajiv Pratap Rudy expressed his anguish regarding the Mumbai gang rape and said that incidents like it show Mumbai in a dark light, like never before.

"It is a ghastly crime, it's a crime against society if a young girl who is a trainee photojournalist has been by few people in Parel. Mumbai is a place where such incidents are rare. It has an image of a society, which takes care of ladies in a very deep way," Rudy said.

"Having said that, I am sure Mumbai Police will make every effort to see that the culprits are tracked down and the new law is strong enough to handle these cases. So, my only appeal is to Mumbai Police and, ofcourse, the state should react and see that the culprits are tracked down, so that the most severe action is taken against them-so that it becomes a deterrent for the whole society because Mumbai is a symbol of an integrated society, which is known across the world," he added.

Meanwhile, BJP President Rajnath Singh on Friday said that every incident of rape is condemnable and the perpetrators should be given the strongest punishment.

"Every such incident is condemnable but I do not have full knowledge of the case as yet. Whatever it is, the state government must have taken cognition of the situation. I urge that a harsh punishment is handed out to the perpetrators," Singh said in Lucknow.

A 22-year-old photojournalist, interning for a lifestyle magazine, was allegedly raped by at least three among a group of five men at an abandoned mill close to the railway tracks in the Mahalaxmi area of Mumbai last night.

The incident reportedly took place at around 8 p.m. when the girl and her male colleague were at Shakti Mills, which is located very close to the railway tracks in the Mahalaxmi area, shooting for a magazine assignment.

"The victim had gone along with her friend to the Shakti Mills to take some photographs. It was evening time. And, there the two boys...and based on the statements given by them (others detained in the case for questioning), three more men came, who then raped her," Mumbai Police Commissioner Satyapal Singh said.

In a chilling reminder of the December 16 gang rape in Delhi, the men tied up the victim's friend and raped the woman.

The victim is recuperating in Jaslok Hospital. Preliminary reports suggested she has sustained multiple internal injuries.

A special squad has been formed by the local police as well as by the crime branch to probe into the case and investigators has fanned out across the city to trace the accused.