Rajasthan tribal woman paraded naked: Eight arrested as BJP, Congress spar

BJP president J P Nadda said that CM Ashok Gehlot was busy competing with Sachin Pilot while the law and order situation in the state was deteriorating.

Eight people were arrested in Rajasthan after a 20-year-old pregnant woman was allegedly stripped and paraded naked in Pratapgarh district. One of those arrested is the husband of the woman.

A video of the incident, which took place on August 31, went viral on social media, showing the woman screaming for help, inviting wide condemnation. State police said that the husband suspected the woman of having an affair with another man.

Rajasthan's Director General of Police (DGP) Umesh Mishra said that the husband was unhappy that his wife started living with another man and that her in-laws kidnapped her out of spite. Mishra said that six teams had been formed to arrest the accused and Pratapgarh's Superintendent of Police, Amit Kumar, was stationed in the village to avoid any untoward situation.

Late Friday night, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot sent out a tweet promising swift action. “The Director General of Police has been instructed to send the ADG Crime to the spot and take the strictest action in this matter. There is no place for such criminals in a civilized society. These criminals will be put behind bars as soon as possible and will be tried and punished in the fast track court,” he tweeted.

The matter soon snowballed into a political storm in the poll-bound state. BJP president J P Nadda said that Gehlot was busy competing with Sachin Pilot while the law and order situation in the state was deteriorating.

“The Chief Minister and Ministers are busy settling factional squabbles, and the remaining time is spent appeasing one dynasty in Delhi. It's no wonder the issue of women's safety is being completely ignored in the state. Every single day, there is an instance of harassment against women. The people of Rajasthan will teach the state government a lesson,” Nadda said in a tweet.

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Sekhawat said that “all limits of inhumanity towards women” have been crossed in Rajasthan.

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra sent out a tweet supporting the quick action. “Taking quick and strict action in the incidents of crime against women, it is very important to punish the criminals,” Vadra tweeted.