BJP Leaders Are Not Pro-Rapists: Ram Madhav on Kathua Rape Case

“It’s incorrect to say the BJP leaders tried to influence investigations,” the BJP National General Secretary said.

Ram Madhav, BJP general secretary addresses a press conference over Kathua rape case in Jammu.

(Photo: PTI)

A day after two BJP ministers, who backed the accused in Kathua rape case, resigned, senior leader Ram Madhav said on Saturday, 14 April that it is incorrect to say that the party members tried influencing the investigation in the gangrape and murder of the eight-year-old in Jammu and Kashmir.

“BJP will forward the resignations of the two ministers to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. It is incorrect to say that the BJP leaders tried to influence the investigations. There may have been some indiscretion on their part, but now all of us will try to bring things back to normal,” the party’s National General Secretary Ram Madhav said in a press conference.

He arrived in Jammu earlier on Saturday to chair a BJP legislature meet at the party headquarters.

Madhav added that the party leaders who were present in Kathua on 1 March during the agitation were trying to ‘pacify the crowd’. On the party facing national and international backlash for supporting the rape accused, Madhav called it a misunderstanding and claimed that they are not ‘pro-rapists’.

On 1 March, a huge crowd gathered in Kathua and our ministers went there to pacify them. A misunderstanding took place. Their intention was not to hamper the investigation. Allegations on them being pro-rapists are not true.

Ram Madhav, BJP

“Jammu and Kashmir government will ensure justice for the girl and punishment to the culprits. The police has completed its probe and it is now for the court to decide,” the BJP in-charge for Jammu and Kashmir added.

No Threat to PDP-BJP Coalition in J&K: Ram Madhav

Ram Madhav said that there was no threat to the ruling PDP-BJP coalition in Jammu and Kashmir as both the parties were working in coordination, IANS reported.

"We will speak to our party legislature and also to the two ministers who have submitted their resignations," Madhav said.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is in Srinagar where she is meeting party legislators and senior ministers to discuss the future course of action on the Kathua rape and murder case of an eight-year-old minor girl.

Informed sources told IANS Mehbooba was likely to request the Jammu and Kashmir High Court to constitute a fast track trial court to deliver a sentence in the case.

The Chief Minister is also slated to announced the termination of the accused police officers against whom a chargesheet has been filed.

(With inputs from IANS)