Akhilesh must resign, say opposition parties

NEW DELHI: Members of Parliament from BJP demanded on Monday the resignation of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav over the gang rape of a woman and her

NEW DELHI: Members of Parliament from BJP demanded on Monday the resignation of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav over the gang rape of a woman and her daughter in Bulandshahr, alleging that such incidents were happening as criminals “enjoyed protection” from the state government.

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Raising the issue during zero hour, BJP MP from Bulandshahr Bhola Singh said the Samajwadi Party (SP) government has “failed” to tackle the law and order situation in the state.

The incident that took place just 65 km from Delhi has given a political handle to the BSP, BJP and the Congress to attack the ruling SP ahead of the next year’s assembly polls in the state. After winning 71 of the total 80 seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP has emerged as a serious contender for power in UP.

“Police is not able to work. The situation is very serious. The chief minister should resign,” Bhola Singh said, drawing support from other party members, including state chief Keshav Prasad Maurya. “Uttar Pradesh is burning,” said Sant Kabir Nagar MP Sharad Tripathi.

SP members were soon on their feet, asking the treasury benches to get Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resignation first on the alleged atrocities on dalits in the country.

Alleging that the incident clearly indicated that “jungle raj” prevailed in the state, BSP chief Mayawati too asked the UP CM to step down on “moral grounds if he can’t handle” the law and order situation.

Congress leader Sheila Di ks hit, who is the party’s chief ministerial candidate for UP polls, said the lawlessness has increased to such an extent that “nobody is safe” in the state. “Criminals are so emboldened that they think they can get away with anything,” she said. “If no action is taken, there is a possibility of a mass exodus from the state.”