Two members of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) IT cell in Varanasi, India, were among three individuals arrested by the police, identified as alleged perpetrators in the gangrape of a 20-year-old student at the Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University (IIT-BHU).
The arrested individuals confessed to the crime, including disrobing and filming the survivor at gunpoint. Authorities are considering charges under the National Security Act and the UP Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, as stated by Kashi DCP R S Gautam.
Opposition parties criticized the delay in the arrests, noting the political affiliations of the accused as members of the BJP’s technical cell in Benares. There have been comments about the slogan ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ (Save the Daughter, Educate the Daughter) by the BJP being labeled as hollow.
The Uttar Pradesh Chief, Ajay Rai, remarked on the slogan and accused individuals of serious crimes being associated with the BJP. The opposition party highlighted instances of BJP ministers supporting accused individuals in past rape cases.
The report also mentions concerns about the Modi government’s silence on such incidents involving its party workers. The BBC reported on instances where BJP ministers remained silent on the early release of accused individuals involved in rape cases.
The broader question posed is about the duration of the Modi government’s silence regarding alleged inhumane acts committed by members of its own party.
