Kathua rape case: PDP wants two BJP ministers out, may break alliance

PDP and BJP have had tense relations ever since joining hands to form government in J&K in 2016. The Kathua rape case has added fuel to the proverbial fire.

New Delhi: The uneasy alliance between People's Democratic Party (PDP) and BJP may be nearing an end in Jammu and Kashmir with Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti reportedly demanding that two BJP ministers in the cabinet be removed for allegedly instigating protests against investigations in the Kathua rape case.

PDP has demanded that forest minister Chaudhary Lal Singh and industries and commerce minister Chander Prakash Ganga be removed for their alleged support and participation in protests against investigations into the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl. in Kathua. The two had reportedly attended an event organised by Hindu Ekta Manch, an outfit that protested against the intial arrests made in the case. It is because of this that the PDP-BJP alliance - already on shaky grounds - may well crumble. 

CM Mufti is scheduled to chair a high-level meeting of her party on Saturday to decide the future of alliance with BJP.

The rape and murder of the eight-year-old child has rocked the entire country. The girl, belonging to a nomadic Muslim tribe in the district, was sedated time and again before being raped and killed. She was abducted on January 10 and was later strangled to death on January 14. The body of the girl was recovered from Rassana forest on January 17 - nearly a week after she went missing while grazing horses in the forest area. 

Accusations have since flown thick and fast with protests in Jammu and Kashmir for a thorough probe growing louder with each passing day. Expressing her concerns over the brutal rape and murder, Mufti took to Twitter earlier on Friday and assured that her government will ensure that no other child will ever face such brutality and atrocity.