BSP chief Mayawati on Sunday stepped up her attack on the SP government in Uttar Pradesh alleging it was perpetrating “jungle raj” and there was attempt to put the Badaun gangrape case on the back burner.
Ms. Mayawati’s remarks were made at Katra Shahadatganj, the village where two dalit girls were brutally gangraped and murdered.
A day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met the victims’ family, local SP MP Dharmendra Yadav also reached Katra Shahadatganj where he faced the anger of the inconsolable parents who have alleged that the police did not take prompt action in the case because of their caste.
Ms. Mayawati, who met the family of the cousins whose bodies were found hanging on a tree on May 28, 2014, announced Rs. 5 lakh each to the victims’ kin from her party fund, claiming that though they have refused the government compensation, they would accept her assistance.
“The family members told me that the local MP came this morning and offered compensation and all help, but they refused. They told that whatever I will give them, they will accept gladly,” she said after meeting the family.
“They (family) said police had all plans to save the accused which I strongly condemn,” she said .
“There was an attempt to put the case on the back burner and when I came to know this, I immediately decided to come to Badaun,” she said.
“After I got to know that the state government was delaying action, I sent my party’s national general secretary Naseemuddin Siddiqui to the village and held a press conference.”
“The outcome of my decision was that the state government decided for a CBI inquiry into the matter,” she added.
Ms. Mayawati alleged that there was complete “jungle raj” in the State and Badaun was the most affected.
She threatened that if “atrocities” were committed on the people here in the future, she would stage a sit-in in protest.
Ms. Mayawati stayed at the victims’ house for around 20 minutes and said the financial assistance would reach them by Tuesday.
The former UP Chief Minister said it was now the responsibility of the Centre that an inquiry is started at the earliest and severe punishment is given to the culprits.
Ms. Mayawati, who was accompanied by senior party functionaries, also visited the spot where the bodies of the two girls were found hanging.
Talking to reporters in Lucknow earlier in the day, Ms. Mayawati had slammed the Akhilesh Yadav government, saying transferring and suspending officers will not help and that it needs to tighten the noose around SP members.
Reiterating her demand for imposition of President’s rule in the State, she had said, “If the State government is unable to control the situation then in the interest of the people it should relinquish power. Otherwise we again request the Governor to recommend President’s rule,” she said.
However, Mr. Dharmendra Yadav, the SP MP, defended the government’s handling of the case, saying firm action had been taken against the accused policemen and all possible steps were ordered to provide justice to the victims.
“I want to tell the Central government and everyone else that all possible action was taken by the State government in the last three days,” he said, noting that a CBI inquiry has been recommended as per the family’s demand, the accused were arrested within 72 hours and the case was assigned to a fast-track court.
He also rejected allegations that a particular community members had unleashed terror in the village.
“I am giving you an assurance that you will not get to hear anything of this sort in the district or the entire U.P.,” he said.
