Can't assure safety to women in RJD protest, says Lekhi

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member of Parliament (MP) Meenakshi Lekhi on Saturday said that it would not be possible to provide safety and security to women participating in the Rashtriya Janata Dal's (RJD) nationwide protest demanding resignation of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over the alleged sexual exploitation at various shelter homes in the state.

Speaking to ANI, Lekhi said, "Just take a look at what happened during Rahul Gandhi's previous candle march in April this year. Even Priyanka Gandhi felt unsafe there. Now that we have a protest staged by the RJD, I can vouch that no women, taking part in the strike, will be safe either." Congress president Rahul Gandhi is also expected to participate in the protest.

The chorus for Nitish Kumar's resignation has grown after a photo of the owner of the shelter home, Brajesh Thakur being felicitated by the Chief Minister emerged. As many as 11 employees of the child shelter home in Muzaffarpur were arrested on July 24 for allegedly sexually harassing the inmates.

Thakur is the prime accused in Muzaffarpur's shelter home case, where more than 30 minor girls were allegedly sexually assaulted over a period of time.