Statements of Akhilesh, Mulayam strengthen rapists' spirit:Uma

Attacking Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav for the gangrape and murder of two Dalit sisters in Badaun, Union Minister Uma Bharti today said their statements "strengthen the spirit of rapists."

"Statements by Mulayam and his son only strengthen the spirit of rapists," the BJP leader told reporters.

Her comments came a day after a journalist asked Akhilesh about the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh to which he had said, "I hope you have not faced any danger."

The journalist's question was in the backdrop of the Badaun case and another gangrape incident in Azamgarh, the constituency of the SP chief.

Mulayam had last month raked up a huge controversy on rape cases when he had publicly said, "Ladke, ladke hain, galti ho jati hai (Boys are boys, they make such mistakes). That doesn't mean that you award them capital punishment."

In the light of such remarks, the BJP leader apprehended that the Uttar Pradesh Government might not punish the accused in the Badaun case which might lead to repetition of such incidents.

"The Uttar Pradesh Government won't punish these rapists by taking them to Fast Track courts. So there will be repetition of such incidents," she feared.

Two teenage dalit cousins were allegedly gangraped and murdered and their bodies were found hanging from a tree on May 28. All the five accused named in the FIR, including two constables have been been arrested.