Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma said strict punishment will be meted out to BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, if he is found guilty.
Sengar, a BJP MLA accused and arrested on charges of abducting and raping a 17-year-old girl in Unnao, was detained by the Central Bureau of Investigation on April 12.
Said Sharma to THE WEEK, “He will be given the strictest punishment, if found guilty. There is no two ways about it. Let the CBI investigation get over. The state government will do whatever is necessary.”
Sharma said under the previous governments, law and order machinery in Uttar Pradesh had collapsed. “The crime rate was so high then. That is no longer the case today. Crimes have come down considerably in the state since the time we took over. We have lodged a case against our MLA and got him arrested. We are assuring you strict action if he is guilty. Our government has zero tolerance against criminal acts,” said Sharma.
The Uttar Pradesh government handed over the investigation into the gangrape of the girl and the custodial death of her father to the CBI.
Sharma said some groups are deliberately spreading canards about the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government in UP. “People know the truth. At the moment ,the only reason why we are not speaking against the concerned MLA is because there is an ongoing investigation against him. Let it get over, and then see us deal with all the wrongdoers in the case,” he said.
On April 12, the Allahabad High Court questioned the UP government on the obstruction in Sengar’s arrest. On April 13, the high court asked the CBI to arrest Sengar, after which the CBI detained him. But the court said, “Detention is not arrest. It will not serve the purpose." The Court then asked the CBI to present a report to it on May 2.
The Supreme Court, meanwhile, is also slated to take up the issue next week.
The rape became the focus of attention after the victim tried to kill herself outside CM Adityanath’s residence on April 8, while protesting against the lack of action against Sengar by the police. The CBI has now registered three cases against Sengar, the four-time BJP MLA.
Said Nagendra Pratap Singh Patel, Samajwadi Party MP, to THE WEEK, “The BJP government in UP is doing nothing to prevent crimes and rapes in the state. Crimes have increased since Yogi took over as CM. This MLA was arrested after so many days. I am sure nothing will happen to him. His bosses will protect him. You see, whether it is the CBI or the UP Police, both are under the command of the BJP. So, at the end of the day, what can you expect?”