The BJP on Saturday alleged that though there is an extensive list of heinous crimes against women in opposition-ruled states such as Rajasthan, West Bengal, and Bihar, they are playing politics over the recent Manipur incident.
The tension escalated in the troubled hills of Manipur after a disturbing video emerged on May 4, showing two women from conflicting communities being paraded naked by a group of men from the other side.
Addressing a press conference held at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, the Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Anurag Thakur, highlighted several instances of crimes against women registered in Rajasthan, Bihar, and West Bengal. He criticized Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, along with other opposition leaders, for remaining silent on such cases occurring in non-BJP ruled states.
Anurag Thakur stated, "Over the last four years, Rajasthan has witnessed more than one lakh cases of crimes against women, including 33,000 incidents of sexual assault on women."
Regarding the dismissal of Rajasthan minister Rajendra Gudha, Thakur asserted that Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot sacked him based on the instructions of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, after he expressed concern over the escalating crimes against women in the state. Gudha had called for a debate on the issue and demanded introspection.
Thakur questioned whether Chief Minister Gehlot would resign when his own minister accused him of losing authority, especially in light of recent incidents in his home district where a woman was murdered and burnt, and another woman was raped and left for dead just five kilometers away from the Chief Minister's residence.
He further challenged Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and the Gandhi family leaders, asking if they have forgotten their responsibility in addressing these matters.
Moving on to the Trinamool Congress, Thakur criticized West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and accused her party of not being far behind Rajasthan when it comes to crimes against women.
He said, "Mamata ji, I don't know if any 'mamata' (endearment) is left in your heart or not, but humanity was shamed when, during Howrah's Panchla area panchayat polls, more than 40 TMC goons paraded a woman naked and also assaulted the election candidate."
Thakur further claimed that a video was circulating in which two women were half-naked and being paraded in West Bengal's Malda.
He questioned the absence of Mamata Banerjee's compassion and the state government's lack of action in response to these incidents.
Also Read | Women paraded naked: Manipur court sends 4 accused to 11 days police custody
