BJP questions Rahul's silence in Tanzanian case

As the Union Home Ministry and the National Commission for Women sought reports from the Karnataka government on the assault on a Tanzanian woman in Bengaluru, the BJP on Thursday questioned Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s silence.

Accusing Gandhi and the Congress of  playing “hypocritical politics”, the BJP said neither he reacted nor visited Bengaluru to find out about the victim. Rahul had criticised the BJP and the Modi government in Dalit student Rohith Vemula’s suicide case and visited the University of Hyderabad twice to show his solidarity.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said they have sought a report from the state government and would be able to specify about the “sad” incident only after they receive it.

“For 200 years, India was enslaved by foreigners. We have been fighting racial discrimination. But in India itself, if there is racial discrimination, the government will take it very seriously. “We will not allow racial discrimination in the country. This is a matter of shame for the entire nation,” Rijiju told reporters.

The National Commission for Women also swung into action and issued a notice to the Karnataka government and directed immediate action against the culprits.

Condemning the incident, NCW  member Sushma Sahu said it “has sent a very wrong message. We are trying to promote the country globally and for that we have to ensure safety of people coming from other countries”.

After public outcry, the local police have arrested five people for their alleged involvement in the case.

The BJP, meanwhile, accused the Congress of covering up the incident. “Such a big incident has happened and so much time has passed. Still, Rahul and Congress are silent for something that has happened under the very nose of their government there. No action has been taken. This shows how much hypocrisy is there in them and how they play hypocritical politics,” Union Minister and senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.

In an oblique attack on Rahul Gandhi, Naqvi said, “It is shameful that those who are experts in creating a mountain out of a molehill have suddenly turned silent and their silence seems to justify such an unfortunate incident.”