INLD demands arrest of rape-accused Gurgaon legislator

Haryana's opposition party INLD on Thursday took out a protest march and burnt an effigy of BJP's Gurgaon legislator Umesh Aggarwal, demanding his arrest and resignation after a court in Delhi framed rape charges against him.

Activists of the Indian National Lok Dal gathered near Sohna Chowk here and marched through Gurgaon's main market road, shouting slogans against Aggarwal, the Haryana government and Delhi Police.

The protesters burnt Aggarwal's effigy on the Main Post Office Chowk after thrashing it with shoes and slippers.

They also shouted slogans against Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar over his silence in the matter.

A 25-year-old woman from Delhi's Tilak Nagar alleged that she was raped in January during a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) event in Faridabad at which the party's national leaders were present.

Three people -- Aggarwal, Sandeep Luthra and a woman, Rekha Rani -- are accused in the case.

A trial court in Delhi has charged Aggarwal and Luthra with drugging the woman in a Faridabad hotel and raping her, while Rekha Rani has been charged with abetting the crime.

The Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress have protested earlier against the rape accused.