Zee Media Bureau/ Neha Attre
New Delhi: Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Sunday met the family members of the Dalit victims in Badaun, who were gang-raped and then murdered last month, and accused the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) government in the state of downplaying the incident.
“SP initiated CBI inquiry in the incident only after me decision to visit the area.,” she said. She further said that it is the responsibility of the central government to ensure that justice is carried out.
The BSP supremo called for strict action against the accused and said that families are now afraid of sending their daughters outside the house after the ghastly incident.
“We demand President`s Rule if the state government is unable to mintain law and order situation here, ” she said.
While referring to SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav`s statement on capital punishment in rape cases, the BSP supremo told PTI, "It is the result of extending wrong support to save rape accused that his own party men are committing such incidents in which the police is also involved."
She also visited the site where the two girls were found hanging in the village.
Mayawati`s visit has already triggered a controversy after minor Dalit children from the village were found cleaning the helipad area prior to her visit to make way for her chopper to land.
Soon after the controversy erupted, the BSP said that it is the work of the administration and not their to make way for the helipad.
Mayawati`s visit has already triggered a controversy after minor Dalit children from the village were found cleaning the helipad area prior to her visit to make way for her chopper to land.
Soon after the controversy erupted, the BSP said that it is the work of the administration and not their to make way for the helipad.
Meanwhile, Mayawati has sought a CBI probe in the matter and called for imposition of President`s Rule in the state.
The BSP chief`s visit comes a day after Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi`s visit to the village where he met the family members of the victims and even went to the spot where the victims were found hanging.
He demanded a CBI probe into the incident and said that the family does not trust UP police as they were involved in the incident.
The incident led to nationwide furore after two cousins, aged 14 and 15 years old, went missing from home and their bodies were later found hanging from the mango tree.
It was confirmed that they were gang-raped before being strangulated.
The family of the victims had alleged that the police failed to act after they went to report that their daughters are missing.
When journalists asked about the gruesome incident, Uttar Pradesh Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav said, “I hope you have not faced any danger!”
When the journalist replied in the negative, the Chief Minister reportedly said, "Thank you. You should propagate this."
After the bodies were found, an FIR was filed against seven persons including two policemen.
All the main five accused have been arrested in the case.
