BJP terms Asaram charge conspiracy

The BJP appears to have double standards on crime against women. The principal opposition party which lashed out at the Maharashtra government strangely believes that a rape case filed against Asaram Bapu by a minor is a Congress conspiracy.

Raising the issue during zero hour in the Rajya Sabha, BJP leader Smriti Irani spoke about repeated failures of the state government to make the financial capital safe for women. Besides the rape of a photo-journalist, a woman foreign tourist was attacked with a blade.

Irani said: “It is for the people that I speak today. I speak with angst. This is not an incident that has to be viewed in isolation. Every time such an incident occurs, representatives of governments’ come out to give a sound byte to regret it but no action is taken. Till how long will we be quiet and remain a mute spectator to rising crimes against women.”

Strangely, the BJP virtually defended Asaram Bapu who has been accused of raping a minor. BJP vice-president Prabhat Jha on Friday said in Bhind area of Madhya Pradesh that, “Rape charge against Asaram Bapu is a well planned Congress conspiracy”.

Jha’s strange defence follows senior leader Uma Bharti’s view a day before that the case against Asaram Bapu could be a political conspiracy.

Interestingly, when BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain was asked to comment on Bharti’s comment, he said that Bharti has clarified that she has not taken any side.
“Law should take it’s course and truth should come out, that is the BJP stand,” the MP from Bihar told reporters.

He did not elaborate despite repeated questions on the issue.

In the Rajya Sabha, the issue drew a verbal duel between the Congress and the BJP. Congress MP Prabha Thakur, raising it in zero hour, commented that it was a matter of shame for someone who claimed to be a spiritual leader but had indulged in such an grossly inhumane act.

She demanded action against Asaram Bapu which prompted some Congress members to shout “shame, shame”.  “Asaram Bapu is known as a saint. If a person like him is found involved in such an abhorrent act, he should quit his sainthood,” she said.