Jammu, April 30: In an embarrassment to the ruling PDP-BJP alliance, Jammu and Kashmir's new Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta said after being sworn in that the Kathua rape and murder was a "small issue".

Answering questions about his role in ensuring the stability of the ruling alliance, Gupta said the reshuffle of the council of ministers was in itself a proof of the seriousness which the coalition attaches to better governance.

Asked whether the Kathua rape and murder incident had impacted the reshuffle, he said: "That was a small issue."

Both President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have said that the rape and murder of an eight-year-old in Kathua has shaken the country and made everyone hang their heads in shame.

 

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



Beed (PTI): A man entered an SSC exam centre in Ashti in Maharashtra's Beed district on Friday and assaulted a female student, triggering outrage among parents who sought an explanation from authorities over the security breach.

The incident happened at Doithan centre in Beedsangvi at 10:15am, just before the School Secondary Certificate exam was about to begin, an official said.

"He punched the girl and fled before those in the vicinity could overpower him. The parents of the girl, who were summoned to school, had a heated argument with authorities over the security breach. Others supported them," he said.

The girl, who was shaken from the incident, was allowed to answer the exam under supervision, the official added.

How did an outsider manage to come in without being checked and also flee after assaulting somebody, a group of parents asked.

An Ashti police station official said all efforts are underway to nab the accused.