Three young men arrested for the rape of an IIT-BHU student have been revealed as members of the BJP’s IT cell, sparking a social media campaign launched by the Congress against the ruling party. Photographs allegedly showing the suspects with senior BJP leaders Narendra Modi, J.P. Nadda, Yogi Adityanath, Smriti Irani, and Amit Malviya have been widely circulated, leading to criticism of the party’s claim to practicing politics in the name of Lord Ram.
Kunal Pandey, Anand aka Abhishek Chauhan, and Saksham Patel, who were actively involved in social media and promoted Modi Ki Guarantee, are accused of participating in the preparation for the Lok Sabha elections in the Varanasi constituency represented by the Prime Minister. The incident occurred two months ago when the female student and her male friend were walking on the Banaras Hindu University campus. Three young men on a motorcycle allegedly separated her from her friend, disrobed her, made videos, and sexually assaulted her. They were charged with harassment, disrobing, and rape.
The alleged political affiliations of the accused have caused an uproar on social media just as the BJP was posting messages showcasing the achievements of the youth during Modi’s tenure. The identities of the accused dominated public discourse, with Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai stating, The accused in the gang rape of the IIT-BHU student were none other than the IT cell convener of Varanasi, Kunal Pandey, and Saksham Patel, PA of Kashi president Dilip Patel. This is the perverse face of the BJP.
The Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera questioned the delay in arresting the rapists, criticizing the BJP workers for committing such an act in the Prime Minister’s constituency. The Youth Congress chief B.V. Srinivas shared photographs of the accused with BJP leaders and questioned their actions, as well as the government’s response.
This incident comes as an embarrassment for the BJP ahead of the general election, especially in light of recent sexual harassment charges against BJP parliamentarian Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. International-level women wrestlers Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat have voiced their discontent with the government’s inaction, with Malik announcing her retirement and Phogat leaving her awards near the Prime Minister’s residence.
Rahul Gandhi expressed his dismay, emphasizing the importance of self-esteem for the daughters of the country. He criticized the political benefits allegedly given to the accused and questioned whether they were valued more than the tears of brave women. The BJP has faced previous scandals involving rape and murder allegations, contributing to the public outcry surrounding this latest incident.
As the BJP faces public criticism and a global audience demands action, the party’s alleged involvement in the rape of an IIT-BHU student has triggered a social media campaign led by the Congress. The accused’s purported connections to the ruling party have fueled outrage and revived discussions about previous sex crime allegations against BJP leaders. With national elections approaching, the BJP finds itself further embroiled in controversy and faces mounting pressure to address the issue at hand.
