Smriti attacks Rahul for midnight march

Amethi, April 13: Union Minister Smriti Irani on Friday attacked Congress President Rahul Gandhi in his home constituency here in Uttar Pradesh. She slammed as a farce his midnight march seeking justice for the Unnao and Kathua rape victims. “Rahul Gandhi earlier stood in support of Gayatri Prasad Prajapati. It’s just his compulsion to take a stand this time but Amethi knows the truth. I have faith that justice will be provided,” the Minister said.

Prajapati, a Samajwadi Party member, was an accused in a rape case of a woman from Chitrakoot. He was arrested and is now out on bail. Prajapati was fielded as a SP candidate for the Uttar Pradesh polls in 2017, when the Congress was in alliance with the party. The brutal gang rape and murder of an eight-year-old in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua and the inaction of police in the rape of a 17-year-old in Uttar Pradesh’ Unnao involving a sitting BJP legislator has led to national outrage.

The Minister said that law agencies and government were “taking necessary action” in the rape incidents. “As a woman, I believe and request there should be no victim shaming,” she added. Kuldeep Singh Sengar, BJP MLA from Unnao, has been accused of raping the Dalit teenager, which came to light only after she tried to commit suicide outside Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister’s residence on April 8. (IANS)