Gogoi slams Modi for silence over rape case against Minister
Guwahati, Aug 14 : Former Assam Chief Minister and Congress leader Tarun Gogoi on Tuesday questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his silence over the rape case against Union Minister Rajen Gohain.
"The Prime Minister talks about 'Beti bachao'. However, we need to save our daughters from BJP leaders. How can the railway passengers feel safe when the Minister of State for Railways (Gohain) is involved in rape," Gogoi told the media.
"A case stands registered against the Minister but Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party are silent over the issue," Gogoi said, adding that crime against women had increased across the state during the two-year BJP rule in Assam.
"There should be a thorough inquiry into the rape charge but unfortunately the Assam Police is also silent. Why does the Minister not deny that the voice on an audio clipping of a phone call is not his," Gogoi tweeted on Tuesday.
A woman from Nagaon district had on August 2 lodged an FIR against Gohain for allegedly raping her and her sister on the pretext of providing them jobs.
The woman had later submitted a letter to police that she wanted to withdraw her complaint. The case against Gohain was however registered.
An audio recording had later gone viral on Whatsapp, wherein the Minister reportedly threatened her husband with dire consequences.
Lok Sabha MP from Silchar and All India Mahila Congress chief Sushmita Deb also slammed the Minister.
"How can he continue as the Union Minister? He (Gohain) must resign till the inquiry is over. The audio clipping also makes it clear that he has misused his powers to silence the complainant and her family," Deb said while appealing to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to take action as the state Home Minister in the matter.
Deb also warned of a statewide agitation against Gohain if the victims were not given justice.
"For now, we are not undertaking any major protest since work related to the National Register of Citizens is on and Section 144 of the CrPC has been imposed. However, if no action is taken against Gohain, we will launch a mass agitation," the Congress leader added.
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.
PM Modi speaks to Iranian president, discusses 'serious' situation in West Asia
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday night spoke to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian over the phone and discussed the "serious situation" in West Asia.
Modi expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions in the region and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure.
The prime minister told the Iranian President that the safety and security of Indian nationals, along with the need for unhindered transit of goods and energy, remain India's top priorities.
“Had a conversation with Iranian President, Dr Masoud Pezeshkian, to discuss the serious situation in the region. Expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure,” Modi said in a post on X.
The prime minister also reiterated India's commitment to peace and stability and urged dialogue and diplomacy to end the crisis.
The prime minister had spoken to leaders of several West Asian countries in the last 10 days in the wake of the coordinated offensive launched against Iran by the United States and Israel, in which the Islamic country's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed last month.
In retaliation, Iran has fired drones and missiles at Israel and US military installations around the Gulf region, including the global business and aviation hubs of Dubai and Doha.
Modi earlier spoke to the leaders of Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, Israel and Qatar, and expressed concern over the attacks on their countries, and condemned the violation of some nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He also discussed the welfare and security of the Indian community residing in those countries.
Around 1 crore Indians live in the Gulf and West Asia. While about 10,000 Indian citizens live, study and work in Iran, more than 40,000 live in Israel.
