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Cong questions PM's 'silence' over Unnao rape case, says time to repent, not to indulge in theatrics

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Press Trust of India New Delhi
Last Updated : Apr 12 2018 | 8:35 PM IST

Dubbing the BJP's protest on Parliament impasse as a "drama", the Congress today attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his "silence" on the Unnao and Kathua rape cases and asked whether he would observe a fast on the rising crimes against women under BJP rule in the country.

The Congress demanded that Parliament be reconvened to discuss key issues, saying time has come for the prime minister and the BJP to "repent and apologise" to the people instead of indulging in "theatrics of a farcical fast (upvaas)", and that the ruling party was on its way to 'sanyaas' (retirement) and later 'vanvaas' (exile) in 2019.

Congress spokesperson Kapil Sibal asked why the accused BJP MLA in the Unnao gangrape case was yet to be arrested, and alleged that the Uttar Pradesh chief minister was "protecting" the lawmaker.

Sibal alleged that Modi was "not serious" about rising crime against women in the country and cited National Crime Records Bureau's numbers to substantiate his charge that atrocities against women, including rapes, were "highest" in BJP-ruled states of Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

He questioned whether the prime minister will observe a fast to register his protest against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on inaction against the BJP MLA accused in the Unnao rape case.

The BJP held a country-wide fast today to corner the opposition on washout of the Budget session of Parliament.

"At a time when girls in the country are being attacked, the fast is just aa 'jumla' (rhetoric)," he said, adding, "Don't do such politics. This is not the time to stay silent but to speak up. This is not the time to observe a fast, the country wants to hear the 'Mann ki baat' of the prime minister."
"A farcical fast by a fascist BJP. PM Modi remorse for failing India can only be through a 'Penance Upwaas'! (Sic)
Congress senior spokesperson Anand Sharma demanded that Parliament be reconvened to debate and legislate on key issues
He also took a dig at Amit Shah, saying "he will only talk about animals and trees and things like that. What will he talk about? He is an animal lover, it is quite clear."
Congress general secretary Mohan Prakash said, "It is the arrogance and hypocrisy of Prime Minister Modi and the BJP that they are observing fast today. The BJP's fast is a copy of the Congress' protest of few days ago."

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First Published: Apr 12 2018 | 8:35 PM IST

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