Congress must sack leader for statement on Kathua probe: BJP
New Delhi, April 15: The BJP on Sunday asked Congress President Rahul Gandhi to sack his party's Jammu and Kashmir President Ghulam Ahmed Mir for saying that the investigation in the rape and murder of a young girl in Kathua was motivated.
Addressing the media here, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said: "Mir had made a statement that the local population thinks that the culprits in the Kathua rape case are still out and the investigation is motivated and they are trying to dilute the case."
Javadekar showed a video of Mir to reporters in which he was heard saying: "Somewhere or the other, someone is being protected and hands are being waved here and there. Local population believe that investigation is motivated, the real culprit is being let go and they're trying to fulfil their political criteria."
The Union Minister questioned Gandhi: "We want to ask Rahulji, our two ministers had resigned for joining the rallies in support of the rape accused. So when will he sack his own leader?"
BJP ministers Choudhary Lal Singh and Chander Prakash Ganga resigned on Friday following outrage after they attended rallies to support the rape accused.
Taking a jibe at the Congress President, Javadekar said, "Rahulji had led a candlelight march at night but why don't he take action against his own leader?
"Raising fingers at the leaders of other parties and protecting their own leader is the character of the Congress."
The BJP leader also questioned why Gandhi did not take out any march after the 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape. "Why was he silent on the atrocities on Dalits and women in an inter-caste violence in Mirchpur village of Haryana during Congress rule?"
He said that the Congress was trying to defame the BJP.
"The Congress had done nothing in 10 years when it was in power. They are trying to defame the BJP. They can't compete with us in election, so they are using these tricks," he said.
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.
Remarks against Shinde: Comedian Kamra appears before Maharashtra council's privileges committee
Mumbai (PTI): Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra on Tuesday appeared before the Maharashtra legislative council's privileges committee regarding his alleged remarks against Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
However, in the absence of the main complainant, the hearing has been rescheduled to March 10, said the committee's chairperson, Prasad Lad.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sushma Andhare also appeared before the panel.
Kamra and Andhare later informed reporters that their statements were not recorded during the hearing, as BJP leader Pravin Darekar, the main complainant, was absent.
When asked about his reaction to a threat by the Shiv Sena, which had warned him of dire consequences if he visited Mumbai, Kamra said he felt safe.
Lad said, "Kamra told the committee that he was ready to record his statement now. However, it wouldn't be appropriate to record his statement in the absence of the complainant. It was decided that statements from both sides would be recorded on the same day, and after discussing with Darekar, it was decided to keep the hearing on March 10 at 4 PM."
Andhare also referenced the incident last year when the studio where Kamra performed was vandalised, which occurred after his parody song about Shinde.
"We wanted to know what the charges against us are," she added.
Darekar had moved a breach of privilege notice against Kamra and Andhare for "derogatory remarks" against Shiv Sena leader Shinde, whose party is a constituent of the BJP-led Mahayuti.
Kamra, who has often courted controversy for his anti-establishment views, targeted Shinde in a song parody last year, obliquely referring to him as a traitor.
Andhare had supported Kamra.
The comedian, during his performance at the 'Unicontinental Mumbai' hotel in Khar area of Mumbai, had used a modified version of a Hindi song from the movie "Dil To Pagal Hai" to describe the 2022 rebellion of Shinde against Uddhav Thackeray.
A group of Shiv Sena workers reached the hotel and ransacked its office.
Earlier this month, Kamra had dismissed media reports claiming that he had sought an adjournment from the privileges committee as "incorrect".
