Congress workers protested near the Prime Minister’s PRO office in Varanasi, accusing local BJP leaders of involvement in the gang rape of a BHU student. The demonstration, organized by the Congress’ Varanasi Metropolitan Committee and District Committee, took place near the Prime Minister’s Public Relations Office in Ravindrapuri. The protest aimed to highlight the alleged role of BJP leaders in the gang rape incident that occurred on November 1 on the IIT campus of Banaras Hindu University.

The workers submitted a memorandum to the police demanding the withdrawal of cases against students who had protested in support of the victim and the withdrawal of a defamation case against state unit president Ajay Rai. Rai had claimed that individuals associated with the BJP were involved in the incident. The party also called for the formation of a committee to investigate those involved in protecting the accused since November.

The BHU student had filed a complaint, stating that she was forcibly taken to a secluded area near the Karman Baba temple by three men on a motorcycle, where she was assaulted, photographed, and a video was made. The FIR initially registered under Section 354 was later amended to include charges of gang rape. Three individuals associated with either RSS or BJP were arrested in connection with the case.

In response to the arrests, UPCC president Ajay Rai accused Kunal Pandey, a BJP member, and Saksham Patel, the PA of Dilip Patel (Kashi zone president of the BJP), of involvement in the gang rape. Rai asserted that the BJP’s commitment to ‘Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao’ was merely a slogan, emphasizing the need to expose the party’s “evil face.”

Source: PTI

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