The Congress on Thursday charged the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh of traumatising the victim in the Shahjahanpur rape case by intense scrutiny and examination while patronising the influential leader Swami Chinmayanand, who is an accused in the case.
Addressing mediapersons at AICC headquarters, hours after the party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accused the UP government of protecting the accused, Congress spokespersons Sharmishta Mukherjee and Supriya Shrinate said that the Unnao rape case and Shahjahanpur rape case are stuck in similar scenarios.
"The question that arises is that why in Uttar Pradesh is this happening time and again. Who is shielding Chinmayanand?", asked Ms Shrinate.
They alleged that the state government is adopting double standards in the Shahjahanpur case wherein the victim was questioned for 11 hours while there is no FIR against the accused nor is he arrested.
"How long will this government stay mum on these issues? While UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah give interviews on other issues, they remain mum on this?", asked the Congress leader.
Pointing out at the statement made by the investigating officer, Ms Shrinate said that conduct of the police officer, who has been assigned to investigate the case, has already been suspicious and cannot be trusted.
"Neeraj Arora, IG UP Police, heading the Court monitored SIT, said "I will make my statements in court, I am not afraid of a media trial". Please remember that the same Yogi Government in December 2017 tried their best that a 2011 rape case against Chinmayanand be withdrawn", said Ms Shrinate.
She also questioned the silence of BJP's women MP's in the Chinmayanand case and said that as per National Family Health survey statistics, 99 percent rape cases go unreported.
"It is commendable that the victim came forward and reported what happened with her especially because the allegations are against a powerful man like Chinmayanand", said Ms Shrinate.
Taking on the Narendra Modi government over the laws to protect women, Ms Mukherjee alleged that the Central government is more interested in publicity than actual implementation of such laws.
"In 2014-15 when ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ was launched, fund allocation was Rs 928 crores. A major amount from the allocation has gone for advertising and publicity i.e. 40 per cent or 372.67 crores. So far only 177.97 crores, i.e just 19 per cent of allocation has been released to the states and districts", she said.
"If you actually divide the allocated funds with the number of beneficiaries, it comes to 0.69 paisa per beneficiary. It’s a joke on Government policies,"the Congress spokesperson said.
Earlier in the day, Ms Priyanka, who is also general secretary in-charge of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, alleged that after the Unnao rape case now the government and police is again showing negligence in the Shahjahanpur alleged rape case.
Referring to a news report , Ms Gandhi said that in the Shahjahanpur matter there is alleged involvement of Swami Chinamayananda who is being shielded by the government.
"Even after the victim's statement that was recorded in court where she has mentioned Chinmayanand's name along with others, the rape charge is yet to be added in the matter by the police", she tweeted.
Ms Priyanka, also has alleged that due to the negligence of police and government, the Unnao victim had to face difficulties and now the same was happening in the Shahjahanpur case.