Rape charge against ex-block pramukhtriggers war of words between BJP, SP

Kanpur: Kannauj Police arrested a former block pramukh for allegedly attempting to rape a minor late Sunday evening, triggering a war of words between the BJP and SP. While the BJP functionaries launched a broadside on social media claiming that the accused, Nawab Singh Yadav, was an SP neta and close to its first family, the district SP chief said that he was no longer associated with the party.According to police, the girl claimed that she had arrived at the residence of Yadav accompanied by her paternal aunt late Sunday evening to have a discussion regarding a job she had been assured of. “During the discussion, when her aunt went to relieve herself at a nearby restroom, Nawab, with the intention to sexually assault her, disrobed her. The minor promptly dialled PRV 112 and alerted the police,” police say, adding, ‘the girl was rescued, and the accused was apprehended in an objectionable state.’ Confirming the sequence of events, dist police chief Amit Kumar Anand said: “During the interrogation, the girl revealed that she had arrived at the residence of Nawab Singh Yadav along with her paternal aunt. She had been told that her presence was required for a job. A case under pertinent BNS sections including 76 (Whoever assaults or uses criminal force to any woman or abets such act with the intention of disrobing or compelling her to be naked) and the POCSO Act has been registered against Nawab Singh at the Sadar Kotwali police station.” “The girl is a minor, approximately 15 years of age. Further investigations are in progress in this regard,” the SP said, adding, “However, it is a bit unethical to take a minor for a job late at night hours. We are interrogating the minor’s aunt who took her to Yadav's residence in this regard. Whatever information comes to light, further action will be taken accordingly.” Meanwhile, launching a scathing attack on the SP, UP BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi sought to equate the Kannauj incident with that of a recent Ayodhya rape case involving a minor girl. “Nawab Singh Yadav is not only a small leader of SP, but he has also been Dimple Yadav's representative when she was the Kannauj MP,” he added. BJP functionaries also shared accused Nawab Singh Yadav's pictures with senior SP netas. On the other hand, Kaleem Khan, the SP district president, issued a letter saying that Nawab Singh Yadav was no longer a primary member of the party. He has been involved in anti-party activities for the past five years. “He has nothing to do with the SP. These days he is campaigning for BSP candidates,” he added.However, former BJP MP from Kannauj, Subrat Pathak, through his official handle ‘X’ lambasted the SP, asserting that the dist SP chief was claiming that the accused was not a party worker, whereas the letter written by the SP and the party president a few days ago following the demise of his mother, tells a different story. “The sole distinction between Ayodhya and Kannauj incidents is that if the Ayodhya accused is a Muslim, then a DNA test is demanded for him and he is not expelled from the party. Conversely, the Kannauj accused was disowned by the Muslim district president alleging that he is not affiliated with the party,” Pathak said. On July 30, the Ayodhya police district arrested a bakery owner Moid Khan, who is associated with the SP, and his employee Raju Khan, in connection with the rape of a minor girl.