In a disturbing turn of events, three individuals have been apprehended in connection with an alleged sexual assault case on the IIT-BHU campus. However, the political landscape surrounding the incident has taken centre stage, with the Congress party and the Samajwadi Party (SP) leveling accusations that the accused are members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) IT Cell. Both opposition parties contend that the delayed arrest of the suspects has compromised crucial evidence, further demanding the harshest punishment for the accused individuals – namely, Anand alias Abhishek Chauhan, Kunal Pandey, and Shaksham Patel.
IIT-BHU Tragedy Unveils Political Drama
The Congress and Samajwadi Party’s condemnation extends beyond the individuals involved, as they accuse the ruling BJP government of shielding the alleged rapists. Uttar Pradesh Congress Chief Ajay Rai, taking to social media, stated, “For the BJP, ‘Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao’ is just a slogan. I had said at that time that BJP people are involved in this matter.” The Samajwadi Party echoed these sentiments on social media, asserting that “sisters and daughters are unsafe in the state, and it is the BJP cadres who are the only threat.”
Photographs of two of the accused, Kunal Pandey and Shaksham Patel, alongside Amit Malviya, the BJP IT Cell chief, are circulating among opposition members, insinuating a connection between the accused and the ruling party’s IT Cell. A Congress supporter went a step further, sharing images of the three rape accused with prominent BJP leaders, including PM Modi, party chief JP Nadda, and Smriti Irani, stating, “Rape accused in BHU case are BJP IT Cell members and have pics with all the big leaders of BJP… Imagine the outrage in Godi MEDIA if the accused were associated with Congress and had pics with Rahul Gandhi.”
Congress Party spokesperson Supriya Shrinate took to social media to share a video alleging that the BJP not only harbors such criminals but also elevates them to higher and more responsible positions. Netta D’Souza, Congress Party spokesperson and president of the All India Mahila Congress, lambasted the BJP during a press conference, accusing the party of becoming the ‘Balatkari’ Janata Party (allegedly translating to ‘Rapist People’s Party’). D’Souza expressed shock at Prime Minister Modi’s silence on the matter, demanding answers as to why he and Smriti Irani had not visited Banaras to meet the victim. She further claimed that in the 60 days it took to make the arrests, crucial evidence had been tampered with.
The BHU campus rape case, which unfolded on November 1, 2023, involved the alleged sexual assault of a BHU student by three men near the Karman Baba temple close to the campus. The victim, accompanied by a friend, was reportedly held against her will while the assailants recorded a video and took photographs. After approximately 15 minutes, they released her, retaining her phone number. The incident, now 60 days old, has sparked a flurry of political accusations and demands for justice.
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Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student body affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has also entered the fray. ABVP, demanding swift action, called on the police to file a charge sheet promptly. Abhinav Mishra, the ABVP state media coordinator, issued a statement urging action against those who shielded the accused for two months. Additionally, ABVP called on the BHU administration to take necessary steps to ensure the safety of everyone on the campus.
As the political battle intensifies, the focus on justice for the victim risks being overshadowed by partisan finger-pointing. The coming days will likely see heightened tensions as the case unfolds and the nation grapples with the need for swift and impartial justice.