ISLAMABAD: An Indian cabinet minister mocked a rape survivor, laughing at her for staging a protest in Delhi, Indian media reported on Thursday.
Uttar Pradesh's cabinet minister Om Prakash Rajbhar made fun of the Unnao rape survivor, laughing at her for protesting.
The Unnao rape incident refers to the 2017 kidnapping and rape of a 17-year-old minor in the Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh, by then-BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar and his associates. The case gained national attention due to allegations of a high-level cover-up, the custodial death of the victim's father, and a suspicious road accident involving the survivor.
On Tuesday, the survivor and her family had demonstrated at India Gate, following the Delhi High Court’s suspension of Sengar’s life sentence pending an appeal.
Minister Rajbhar, who leads the BJP ally Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) in Uttar Pradesh, made the remarks while heading to the state Assembly session in the morning, according to the Indian media report.
'India Gate? Ghar to unka Unnao hai'
When media personnel asked him about police handling of the survivor during the protest, after a video emerged showing her being dragged away, he laughed and said, “India Gate? Ghar to unka Unnao hai (Why India Gate? She is from Unnao).”
He added, “The court has issued directions that Sengar would stay away from the family, maintaining a 5-km distance. Why a dharna (protest sit-in) in Delhi when the court has given directions ensuring security? Where is the question of lack of security?”
His son and SBSP national general secretary Arun Rajbhar said, “So, Om Prakash Rajbhar should cry over this, then it would be fine. Investigation has already been done in the case. The court has given directions on security for the family. There is nothing left to say.”
The state government had allegedly withdrawn security for the survivor and her family, stating it was unnecessary as Sengar was convicted and in jail.
Sengar was sentenced to life imprisonment in December 2019 by a Delhi trial court after being found guilty of raping a minor under Section 376 (2) of the IPC and Sections 5(c) & 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The case was investigated and prosecuted by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
He remains in prison and will not be released unless a similar order suspending his sentence in the custodial killing case of the minor’s father is issued by the Delhi High Court, the Indian media report stated.
