Cannot accuse Gayatri Prajapati without concrete proof: Samajwadi Party

Lashing out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for accusing Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav of rendering shelter to criminals, the Samajwadi Party (SP) ion Monday said that BJP should stop focusing on petty issues and concentrate on real ones.

"Gayatri Prajapati is an accused and an FIR has been filed against him. The BJP should stop talking on small issues and start paying attention to the serious ones," Samajwadi Party spokesperson Juhi Singh told ANI.

She added that the local authorities after the investigation had submitted a report, but the Uttar Pradesh High Court wants further investigation and the party respects it. "But only on mere allegations we cannot accuse someone unless there is concrete proof and this is a rule of law," she asserted.

"During BJP MP Sanjeev Balyan's rallies those present involved in the Muzaffarnagar massacre were also there. BJP MP Mahesh Sharma who was responsible for the death of Akhlaq in Dadri gave a tribute on his funeral. Does the BJP have an answer to these statements?" Singh said.

She emphasized that the BJP does not go by the rule of law and neither do they abide by the Supreme Court's decision, be it Triple Talakh or Ram Mandir case.

"Everything they want has to go by their own rules. Gayatri Prajapati is a candidate and if the Chief Minister went to his rallies then what problem does BJP has?" she said.

After the Supreme Court's order, an FIR was registered against Samajwadi Party leader Gayatri Prajapati on February 18 in a gang-rape and sexual harassment case.

The BJP asserted that criminals in the state are masquerading around as ministers and politicians under the wing of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

"Akhilesh Yadav was the one who went around campaigning in the state with one hand on Gayatri Prajapati's shoulders. People of Uttar Pradesh are now looking for answers over women's safety from him. It's shocking that those who have untoward intentions against women are the very ministers being protected by Akhilesh," BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain told ANI.

Earlier, the gangrape survivor had moved the apex court after the police in Uttar Pradesh did not register the FIR, following which the police were ordered to file a status report in the matter within eight weeks.

The woman, who hails from Chitrakoot, had alleged she was raped by Prajapati and others for two years on the pretext of getting a position within the Samajwadi Party.