Following intense criticism over the two rape cases—Kathua and Unnao—in states ruled by it, the BJP said on Friday that rumours were spread that it had not condemned or acted swiftly in the cases. The ruling party appeared to be on the defensive as it supported the action of the state governments in dealing with the cases.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi on Friday, BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi said, “Rumours were being circulated that we never spoke against the rape cases. Even during the BJP's executive meeting in Jammu, a resolution was passed, which said the guilty should be punished and innocent are not harassed. Even I had given a statement (on Thursday); it is there on YouTube, but it was never carried by the media.”
Lekhi said the accused in the rape cases needs to be punished. “Victims don't have religions. We stand behind women and children,” Lekhi said.
The BJP spokesperson accused the agitating lawyer in Jammu who opposed the charge-sheet being filed in the Kathua case as being close to Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad.
She also said the two BJP ministers in the state government who participated in the agitation in support of the accused had said they were misled by their supporters and it was wrong on their part to do so.
In the Unnao case, Lekhi said action is being taken against the BJP MLA who was accused in the case. She read out the details of the case, saying the victim had earlier not named the MLA in her statement before the magistrate and it was only done later on.
Referring to the midnight candlelight march by Congress chief Rahul Gandhi at India Gate, she said the rape cases should not be politicised.
In her press conference, Lekhi went on to talk about the rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in Assam in March. She said people who were raising the issue of two rapes cases in Unnao and Kathua were silent on this incident. The Assam rape case had led to tension in the region as it was alleged that the accused were Bangladeshi migrants.