Leaders should not trivialize rape issues, says BJP on Azam Khan remark

Criticizing the earlier comment of Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Azam Khan of describing the Bulandshahr gangrape case as a political conspiracy, Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) spokesperson Nalin Kohli said that such issues should not be trivialized and demanded harsh punishment to the perpetrator.

"Azam khan now, before this Mulayam Singh Yadav said boys will be boys in the Mumbai rape case. Is this an attempt to somehow trivialize rape, is it an attempt to communalize an issue? Why can't they simply get their act together in the law and order and ensure that the guilty are punished in the fiercest and the harshest manner possible," said Nalin Kohli.

He also questioned the leadership of the state and pointed out towards the earlier insensitive remarks made by the Uttar Pradesh leaders.

"Why is it that the Uttar Pradesh leadership of this Samajwadi Party always makes such irresponsible statement on the issue of rape," Kohli told ANI.

However, earlier today the Samajwadi Party leader defended his remarks and said "I never said there is a conspiracy by the opposition. I said that as the elections are near, we all should find from where these protests and incidents are coming from. I never said that this was a conspiracy by the opposition."

A fast track court in Bulandshahr yesterday sent the three accused arrested in connection with the case to 14-day judicial custody.

The incident took place earlier on Friday night when a 35-year-old woman and her daughter were allegedly gang-raped by a group of robbers in Bulandshahr district.

The victims were on their way from Noida to Shahjahanpur with the other family members when their vehicle was stopped near a cycle repairing shop in Dostpur village on NH-9, which connects Noida and Bulandshahr.