Angry MPs demanded stern action against self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, against whom a 15-year girl has slapped rape charges
Several members from the Lok Sabha on Monday demanded stern action against self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, against whom a teenaged girl has slapped rape charges. The government however tried to pacify members by saying that the probe against Asaram is underway.
The issue came up during Zero Hour when the House was discussing the progress in the probe against the recent gang rape of a Mumbai-based photojournalist.
Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader Sharad Yadav said, "There is one sadhu who is taking the country for a ride. What have you done in the case? A young girl has slapped rape charges against him. Government should say something and do something on this. Why don’t you speak on this.”
“Punishing this sadhu will send a strong message across the country,” Yadav asserted, with several members including Gurudas Dasgupta (CPI) demanding stringent action against the controversial godman. The members wanted to speak on the subject but were not allowed by Speaker Meira Kumar.
“Asaram should be hanged,” shouted Dasgupta. He also said that there have been growing incidents of rape across the country including gang-rape of a lady constable in Jharkhand. “These incidents bring shame to us and also to government agencies,” he said.
In the melee, Harsimrat Kaur (SAD) also demanded death sentence for all such culprits.
Responding to the members, home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said cases like those of Asaram Bapu and the Jharkhand constable were 'primarily the concern of states. They are in preliminary stages of investigation’.
A 15-year-old girl has lodged a written complaint with the police charging Asaram Bapu with sexually assaulting her in his Jodhpur ashram. Asaram has denied the charge.
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