The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday hit out at Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh over his remarks about BJP leader Sushma Swaraj in connection with Asaram Bapu case, and said that it is a publicity stunt.
"He (Digvijay Singh) is attacking Sushma Swaraj to seek publicity because Congress can't fight on the ground. They want to battle it out on Twitter as well. Our stand is clear. Rajasthan police had to take action. They have taken action. They are investigating and law will take its own course," BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said.
Digvijay Singh had criticized BJP for trying to defend self-proclaimed godman Asaram Bapu and said that Sushma Swaraj, who is active on women issues, has remained silent on the issue of Asaram Bapu.
"I am amazed by the attitude of Sushma Swaraj. She has been active on women issues, but she has remained silent on the issue of Asaram Bapu. It demonstrates the utter double standards practice of BJP. I'd like to know who is not supporting Asaram Bapu in the BJP. BJP is trying to defend him, as they share an old relationship with him," he said.
The Jodhpur Police has been granted one-day custody of the self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, who is accused of sexually assaulting a minor in his ashram.
The self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, who was arrested late on Saturday night from his ashram in Indore, was brought to Jodhpur.
According to television reports, the 75-year-old spent the night with police escorts at the airport lounge in Indore. He is being flown on a commercial plane to Jodhpur via Delhi.
Asaram Bapu has been booked under Sections 376, 342, 506 and 509 of the IPC, Section 8 of the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and Sections 23 and 26 of the Juvenile Justice Act.
Besides the summons served on Asaram Bapu, notices have also been issued to the manager of the Chhindwara gurukul in Madhya Pradesh, the hostel warden and the main caretaker of Asaram, who was present at Manai Ashram in Jodhpur on August 15, when the alleged sexual assault took place there.
The 16-year-old girl, who has accused Asaram Bapu of sexually assaulting her at his ashram in Jodhpur, hails from Uttar Pradesh.
