New Delhi: The Hathras ‘gang rape’ and assault case, if not dealt with swiftly, has the potential to affect the BJP’s poll prospects in Bihar, several party leaders told ThePrint Thursday.
The Uttar Pradesh Police triggered a row in the Hathras case after it forcibly cremated the body of the 20-year-old Dalit woman in her village without the presence of her family members. The opposition has now targeted the Modi government over the incident and its treatment meted out to the family members.
“The way the police handled the case has really impacted the image of the administration as well as the party in Uttar Pradesh. The CM has definitely acted swiftly, but the way the opposition has been raising the matter, it is important to take more affirmative action. If they decide to rake up the issue in Bihar, it has the potential to damage the elections,” said a senior BJP leader who didn’t want to be named.
Bihar elections will be held in three phases from 28 October, with counting of votes set to happen on 10 November.
“This is a national issue and people have been watching it on their television screens. It has the potential to affect the elections … which is why our aim is try and keep the focus on local issues and the development that we have done. So far the issue has not been raised very forcefully by the opposition. In case they try to make this an election issue, we will focus on the speedy action that the Yogi government is taking,” said a BJP functionary from Bihar.
Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Chirag Paswan also spoke to Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath and asked him to take “stringent action”.
“As far as electoral prospects are concerned, the impact may not be much, but in terms of the discourse, it can definitely affect the party,” said another party functionary.
Also read: Hours of wait, protest & cremation without family — a night in Hathras rape victim’s village
‘Opposition trying to incite people’
BJP leaders also said the opposition is playing “dirty politics” over the incident.
“The Chief Minister is monitoring the entire situation and it is the BJP’s duty to protect the Dalit community and their rights. The opposition is playing dirty politics over the issue. They are trying to incite people for their own gain,” said Lal Singh, the newly-appointed chairman of the scheduled caste wing of the BJP.
“BJP’s Dushyant Gautam and I spoke to the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and our party high-command also spoke to him. This incident has taken place against our sister and we will ensure speedy justice is delivered. We are pained by the incident and Yogi ji ensured the arrest of the accused. At the same time, financial help has also been provided to the family and the matter has been referred to the fast-track court,” Singh added.
On Thursday, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were arrested by UP Police in Greater Noida while on their way to Hathras to meet the woman’s family.
“The same social media that the BJP intends to use for its election campaigning is also being used by the people from the Dalit communities to launch demonstrations against the incident and are also criticising (the BJP) for it. This needs to be addressed immediately,” said another functionary.
Also read: Told Hathras DM to cremate body in the morning but he didn’t listen, BJP MP says
‘Speedy justice will be delivered’
Senior BJP leader and national spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain, meanwhile, said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has already been formed and “speedy justice will be delivered”.
The Uttar Pradesh government set up the SIT to probe the Hathras case after Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Chief Minister Adityanath Wednesday. The SIT, which is being headed by UP Home Secretary Bhagwan Swaroop, has already met the victim’s family.
“For us, social justice is not a mere slogan but commitment. The party has been trying to reach out to people from this community. UP has already constituted an SIT which will have a Dalit member too. We believe in real empowerment not perceived empowerment. People who are doing politics over this issue have not done anything for the community when they were in power,” said Guru Prakash, BJP spokesperson.
Also read: Hathras woman’s family says they know what would have saved her — ‘being a Pandit or Thakur’
As it is now almost customary, the UP police has messed up the things. The hurried assertion by the UP Poluce about no medical evidence of rape seems to be a poor attempt to cover up. The UP police seem to be in denial mode and for them the dying declaration of the victim has no evidential value. This is atrocious and seems to be an attempt to exonerate the high caste culprits arrested under public pressure. The UP High Court has taken up the case. Let us see.
Obviously. If the question is BJP vs India’s women, BJP is the first preference! What is wrong with your writers Print.