Crimes against women have spiralled out of control under BJP's rule: Rahul on Odisha incident
New Delhi (PTI): The Congress slammed the BJP on Friday over the alleged sexual assault on an Army officer's fiancee in police custody in Odisha, with Rahul Gandhi alleging that crimes against women have spiralled out of control under the saffron party's rule.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the incident, alleging that wherever the party is in power, it is working on the policy to turn police from "protectors to predators".
She questioned the "silence" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the women MPs of the ruling BJP on the issue.
In a post in Hindi on X, Rahul Gandhi said the horrific incident in Odisha has raised serious questions about the law-and-order situation in the country.
"An Army officer who went to seek help from police was brutally beaten up and his fiancee harassed in custody. This heinous incident is a shame on the entire humanity," the former Congress chief said.
Under the BJP government, crimes against women have spiralled out of control, he added.
"When injustice thrives and finds shelter within the government system itself, then from whom should the common citizen expect help?" the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha asked.
"All the culprits in this incident deserve the strictest legal punishment. Strict action needs to be taken against them and an example of justice and security needs to be set before the people of India, especially women," he said.
The Army officer, posted in West Bengal, and his fiancee approached the Bharatpur police station in Bhubaneswar on Sunday to get a complaint of road rage lodged. During the incident, they were also allegedly harassed by some men. However, the duo got into a quarrel with the personnel at the police station over the registration of an FIR.
The woman, who was arrested for "misbehaving" with the police personnel, alleged that she was sexually assaulted after being taken into custody.
In a post in Hindi on X, Priyanka Gandhi said the way police treated an Indian Army captain and his fiancee in Odisha has brought shame to everyone and the entire country is stunned by this incident.
"The Army officer had gone to a police station with his fiancee to seek help against miscreants. Their car was stopped by some anti-social elements. Instead of helping them, police locked them up and the woman was sexually harassed and brutalised in the lock-up," the Congress general secretary alleged.
"Wherever the BJP is in power, it is working on the policy of turning police from protectors to predators. The audacity to deliver justice on their own is now promoting crime, atrocities and inhumanity. This should stop. Strictest action should be taken in this case," she said.
Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said, "This is the same Odisha where the BJP government has completed 100 days in power. Narendra Modi spoke about women's empowerment and safety in Odisha ... but this incident occurred."
"In Odisha, a woman closed her restaurant at night and went out, when she was harassed by some men. She and her fiance, an Army officer, went to a police station to file a complaint. She has said she was tied up at the police station. After some time, a police officer came in, removed her undergarments and kicked her in the chest," Shrinate said.
"Under the BJP government, predators are not only on the streets but also within the police force. Women are not safe even at police stations," she added.
The prime minister remains silent on the incident as do all BJP representatives in states ruled by the party, such as Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Bihar, Shrinate said.
"He (Modi) is busy campaigning (for Assembly polls) and does not have time to address women's safety issues. No woman MP of the BJP is willing to speak out on this matter. The BJP rightfully protested in West Bengal, but what about the states where it is in power? Who can justify this? Where are women safe?" the Congress leader asked.
The Odisha Police on Wednesday suspended five personnel in connection with the alleged assault on the Army officer and "molestation" of his fiancee at the Bharatpur police station.
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Lok Sabha adjourned till 12 noon over Adani, Sambhal issues
New Delhi (PTI): Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 12 noon on Thursday amid protests by Opposition members over the Adani issue, violence in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal and other issues.
As soon as the House met for the day, Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who was elected from Kerala's Wayanad in the recent bypoll, and Ravindra Vasantrao Chavan, who was elected from Maharashtra's Nanded, took oath as Lok Sabha MPs.
Immediately after the oath taking of the two new members, many Opposition members, including from the Congress, were on their feet as they sought to raise issues related to the allegations against the Adani Group and other issues.
Some members from the Congress and Samajwadi Party were in the Well while other Opposition members stood in the aisle and shouted slogans.
Speaker Om Birla asked the Opposition members to allow the Question Hour and said they can take up their issues later.
"I have been giving you enough opportunities to raise your issues and will continue to do so in future. But your way of systematic blockade of the proceedings is not acceptable. The issue which you want to raise has nothing to do with the country," he told the protesting members.
Birla said people have chosen the MPs as their representatives to raise the genuine issue of the people but they were resorting to disrupt the proceedings of the House which is not good.
He said there were difference of opinions in the Constituent Assembly too but those were raised in dignified manners.
Amid the din, one question was taken up.
As the protests continued, the Speaker adjourned the House will 12 noon.
The Opposition members wanted to discuss the Adani controversy and the recent violence in Sambhal.
The Adani Group said on Wednesday that Gautam Adani, and his nephew Sagar have not been charged with any violation of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in the indictment that authorities filed in the New York court in an alleged bribery case.
