Ayodhya Gangrape: BJP Leaders Meet Survivor; Akhilesh Seeks Medical Help For 12-Year-Old

Baburam Nishad (left) and Akhilesh Yadav. (X/PTI)

The Ayodhya police on July 30 arrested SP leader Moid Khan and his employee Raju Khan for raping the minor at the leader’s bakery three months ago. While they allegedly threatened the girl with her video clip, the incident came to light after she was found to be pregnant

A three-member delegation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) met the 12-year-old gangrape survivor and her mother in Ayodhya on Sunday. Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, however, said that instead of doing politics over the issue, the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government should make medical arrangements for the rape survivor, appealing the court to take suo-motu cognisance and ensure safety of the minor.

The Ayodhya police on July 30 arrested SP leader Moid Khan and his employee Raju Khan for raping the minor at the leader’s bakery three months ago. While they allegedly threatened the girl with her video clip, the incident came to light after she was found to be pregnant.

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The BJP’s delegation was led by Rajya Sabha MP Baburam Nishad. “We spoke to the girl’s mother and we will submit the entire report to the national leadership. The UP government is not going to spare the accused who committed this crime. Yadav has been talking about DNA testing to confirm the accused. He talks about PDA (Picchhda Dalit Alpasankhyak) but he cannot see and hear the pain of this daughter. The government will take such action that many generations will remember it. I request CM Yogi Adityanath to increase the financial amount of Rs 5 lakh to Rs 25 lakh,” said Nishad.

The development came two days after the survivor and her mother met Adityanath. On Saturday, the SP leader’s bakery was razed by the Ayodhya District Administration.

The delegation also comprised Rajya Sabha MP Sangeeta Balwant Bind and UP’s Minister of State (Independent Charge) Backward Class Welfare Narendra Kashyap. Nishad said, “We held a detailed discussion with the mother of the survivor. We have also gathered information about him (accused Moid Khan). We will go to the bottom of the matter, and conduct a probe.”

He said the family of the rape survivor is “satisfied” with the action taken by the government against the accused.

The meet, however, took an emotional turn when the mother of the 12-year-old couldn’t control her emotions and burst into tears. “He should be hanged,” she said.

In the backdrop of the meeting, Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief and UP minister Om Prakash Rajbhar launched an attack against the SP. “People used to call the Samajwadi Party government a government of goons. Today people call the NDA government a bulldozer government. Criminals are afraid of this government. In the Samajwadi Party government, criminals used to roam free and used to get protection. If (Akhilesh Yadav) he does not trust the government’s action, then he should investigate the matter himself,” said Rajbhar.

Rajbhar’s remark came in response to Yadav’s tweet in which he demanded best possible medical arrangements for the rape survivor. “The government should make the best possible medical arrangements for the rape survivor. It is the government’s responsibility to protect the girl’s life. It is a humble request to the Hon’ble Court to take suo-motu cognizance and considering the sensitivity and seriousness of the situation, ensure every possible safety of the victim under its supervision. The conspiracy of ill-intentioned people to politicize such incidents should never succeed,” Yadav said on X.

The case has taken a political turn ahead of the bypolls for the 10 Assembly seats, dates for which are yet to be announced.