MP BJP ministers comment on Rahul-Priyanka relationship; whip up controversy as Opposition reacts
Bhopal: The controversy that rose following Madhya Pradesh Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya's comments on Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has intensified with Minister Vijay Shah openly supporting Vijayvargiya during an event in Khandwa.
Criticizing public displays of affection between the Gandhi siblings, Shah said it was not a part of Indian culture. “Our civilization, customs and traditions do not teach this. Whatever they teach, practice it in your own homes, not at public places,” the minister stated, on lines similar to those of Vijayvargiya.
Pointing to a fellow legislator Kanchan Tanve, Shah continued his speech, “She is also my real sister, so would I kiss her in public? Indian culture and civilization do not teach this.”
Taking objection to both Vijayvargiya's and Shah's statements, the Congress held statewide protests in Madhya Pradesh. Effigies of Vijayvargiya were burnt and Shah was slammed for supporting him.
Congress spokesperson KK Mishra called it unfortunate that BJP ministers who use derogatory language faced no legal action.
State Congress President Jitu Patwari termed Mr Vijayvargiya's comments "disgusting" and "a direct challenge to India's culture, tradition, and the sacred brother-sister relationship." He also demanded that both ministers resign. Further, Patwari accused Mr Vijayvargiya of being frustrated at not becoming Chief Minister and said, "At the age of 70, he is making absurd statements, insulting our culture and women alike."
The controversy however, has intensified as Shah has backed Vijayvargiya openly and both the Cabinet ministers have been accused of distorting cultural values for political gains, while the opposition intensifies its campaign to corner the ruling BJP on issues of dignity, language, and respect for women.
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19-yr-old woman found hanging from tree in UP village; juvenile held
Lucknow/Pratapgarh (UP) (PTI): Police have apprehended a 16-year-old boy for his alleged involvement in the rape and murder of a 19-year-old woman whose body was found hanging from a tree in a village here, officials said on Monday.
Additional Superintendent of Police (West), Brijnandan Rai, said that the body of a 19-year-old woman was found hanging from a tree in an orchard in the Manikpur police station area on Sunday morning. A post-mortem examination subsequently confirmed that she had been raped.
Police registered a case against unidentified persons under sections 103(1) (punishment for murder) and 70(1) (gangrape) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and initiated an investigation.
During the course of the investigation, the police found that the deceased was in contact with a juvenile who was also her relative.
Acting on this information, during a joint checking operation, sub-inspector Amit Kumar Singh of Manikpur police station and SOG In-charge Amit Kumar Chaurasia, along with their team, apprehended the 16-year-old near the Lehdari Ganga River bridge.
The search for other accused persons is ongoing, police said.
According to the police, the woman had gone to sleep after dinner on Saturday night but was found hanging in an orchard nearly 400 metres away from her home the following morning.
Additional Superintendent of Police (West), Brijnandan Rai, had earlier said that the circumstances suggest foul play.
"The victim's slippers and undergarments were recovered 50 metres away from the spot where the body was found. There are visible injury marks on her body," Rai said.
While locals have alleged that the woman was murdered after being raped, the ASP said that it is "prima facie a case of murder."
"Based on the complaint filed by the victim's brother, a case of murder has been registered against unidentified persons," the officer added.
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, in a post on X in Hindi on Monday, said, "The news of the heinous murder of a Dalit daughter in Pratapgarh is deeply tragic and condemnable."
"The question remains: why does the spate of murders of 'PDA daughters' continue unabated in Uttar Pradesh? Are the BJP government's claims regarding women's safety merely hollow rhetoric, or is there, in fact, discrimination even in the provision of security for women?" he said.
"Whenever the 'wandering Honourable (ghumantu maananiye)' finds a moment of respite from election campaigning, he should cast a glance at the plight of the daughters of his own Uttar Pradesh. In any case, apart from injustice and oppression, no sister, daughter, or mother of this state holds any hope from you," Yadav added.
