SP will sink before UP polls, says BSP post SC pulling up Akhilesh-led government

As the Supreme Court pulled up the Uttar Pradesh Government over the Bulandshahr gang-rape case, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Monday described the Mulayam Singh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party as a drowning ship which would sink well before the dates of the state assembly elections are announced.

"As far as the Bulandshahr rape case is concerned, it was known to one and all that it was because of a lack of law and order in UP. Therefore, such gang rapes have been taking place from time to time and it is being reported in each district. The Bulandshahr case is one of the most heinous crimes in the history of rape cases," BSP leader Sudhindra Singh Bhadauria told ANI.

"As far as the Samajwadi Party in UP is concerned, it has lost all sensibilities because it keep issuing loose statements. After all, Mulayam Singh has himself said that it is a small crime, and 'boys are boys'. Then, he made a mockery of a gang-rape, how is there a possibility of a gang-rape. So, in that background, this is the general attitude of the Samajwadi Party and its leadership. I think the honorable Supreme Court has rightly questioned the Samajwadi Party government of Uttar Pradesh as to why it is using such loose words and language for rape victims," he added.

"It is certainly a drowning ship. The ship will sink soon, much before the election is announced. And, I think, this 'baap bete ki sarkar, this chacha bhatije ki sarkar', will be shown the door by the people of Uttar Pradesh, and then, it will be buried forever," he said.

The comments from the Mayawati-headed party comes after the apex court today sought explanation from Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Azam Khan for calling Bulandshahr gang-rape a 'political conspiracy'.

Khan had earlier hinted at a political conspiracy behind the gang-rape of the mother-daughter duo in Bulandshahr.

Khan said that a desperate opposition could stoop to any level to defame and disgrace the government since the state elections are approaching.

However, the Samajwadi Party leader defended his remarks.

"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," Khan told ANI in Lucknow.

Following his remarks, the minor victim in the case had also moved the apex court seeking FIR against Khan and erring police officers.

The incident took place earlier on the intervening night of 29-30 July 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.