BJP MLA Kavinder Gupta debuted as Jammu and Kashmir's new Deputy Chief Minister with a shocker on Monday when he said that the Kathua rape and murder is a small incident and should not be given so much hype. J&K's main Opposition party, National Conference, attacked Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's government that also inducted BJP's Kathua MLA, Rajiv Jasrotia, who was allegedly seen in support of those accused of the horrific crime.
Jasrotia was inducted into the council of ministers apparently to offset BJP's unpopularity. On April 13, two BJP ministers had to quit after they were seen at a rally that sought a CBI probe so that no "injustice" was done to eight persons accused of kidnapping, drugging, raping and battering to death an eight-year-old girl at Rassana village in Jammu's Kathua in January.
"Rassana is a small incident. We should ensure such incidents do not occur and the girl gets justice. There are so many challenges before the government.
"We should not give hype to Rassana incident", Gupta told mediapersons shortly after taking oath.
The rejig was aimed at undoing the damage done by the previous ministers. Gupta, who was earlier the Speaker of J&K's Legislative Assembly, parried questions about demands for a CBI probe into the crime. "The case is sub-judice and courts will decide", he said.
"So BJP's new Deputy CM Kavinder Gupta says the Rassana rape and murder was not a big issue, and the party elevates the same MLA as a minister who participated in the pro-rapist Hindu Ekta Manch rally! What a shame! Will Mehbooba Mufti accept this? Disappointing if she does!" tweeted NC spokesperson Junaid Azim Mattu.
"Two BJP ministers removed for attending a pro-rapist rally and an MLA who is reported to have attended the same rally is promoted as a minister. Why are BJP/ Mehbooba Mufti confused about where they stand on the Kathua rape?" tweeted Omar Abdullah, NC leader and former J&K CM.
Gupta, who represents prestigious Gandhi Nagar constituency of Jammu, was among seven ministers sworn in by J&K Governor NN Vohra in Jammu on Monday morning.
Undeterred by the controversy, J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti hoped that the new team of ministers would do better work. "Old team had done good work. Now new team has come, They are young and educated and I hope they will do more good work", she said.
The Deputy CM played down the reshuffle and said the government had completed three years so new faces should also get a chance. Outgoing Deputy CM Dr Nirmal Singh will replace Gupta as the new Speaker.
BJP general secretary Ram Madhav also said that the reshuffle had nothing to do with the Kathua rape and murder case. He, however, dodged questions over the inclusion of Jasrotia.
Three weeks ago, anger, shock and protests swept India when chilling details of the Kathua case emerged for the first time. A new law for death to those raping children below 12 came into force in India on April 22, in response to days of unspeakable brutalities and subsequent outrage across states, but cases continue to pour in from various parts of the country.
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