Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan slams INDIA ally Congress for fielding leader who ‘supported’ Kathua rape accused

Lok Sabha elections: Chaudhary Lal Singh rejoined the Congress last month, and has been fielded from the Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency of J&K

Published on: Apr 18, 2024, 12:52:34 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday lashed out at INDIA ally Congress for fielding Chaudhary Lal Singh, who allegedly supported the accused in the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua in January 2018.

Vijayan alleged that Singh, a former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader participated in the rally in support of the rape accused.

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that Rahul Gandhi welcomed Lal Singh into the Congress.

"This clearly shows that the Congress is not taking a strong stand against the Sangh Parivar," Vijayan was quoted by PTI as saying at a press conference in Malappuram, adding that Rahul Gandhi himself welcomed Singh into the party.

Chaudhary Lal Singh rejoined the Congress last month, and has been fielded from the Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency of the Union territory. He will be contesting elections against Union minister Jitendra Singh.

ALSO READ: Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency: Rajput citadel to see a fierce battle

He had won from Udhampur twice as a Congress candidate in 2004 and 2009, and later switched over to the BJP in 2014. He was also elected to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly as an MLA in 1996, 2002, and 2015.

Lal Singh had also served as a minister in the previous PDP-BJP coalition government led by Mehbooba Mufti, which collapsed after the saffron party withdrew support in 2018, a year before J&K's special status was scrapped following the abrogation of Article 370.

Several months before the fall of the Mufti government, Singh resigned from the BJP and floated the DSSP following an uproar over his participation in a rally in support of the accused in the rape and murder of the eight-year-old girl in Kathua in January 2018. However, he defended his participation in the rally, stating that he was there to "defuse the situation".

Voting in Udhampur will be held on April 19 in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections. On the other hand, Jammu will vote on April 26, Anantnag-Rajouri on May 7, Srinagar on May 13 and Baramulla on May 20.

(With PTI inputs)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.