Azam's volte-face: Bulandshahr rape not opposition conspiracy

Rampur: Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan on Tuesday took u-turn on his controversial 'conspiracy remark’ in connection with the brutal Bulandshahr gang-rape of mother and daughter. While serving a clarification, Khan said that he meant to say such incidents have been happening when the state is all set for the 2017 Assembly Elections.

Azam said, “Didn’t say ‘virodhiyon ki shaazish’. I just said polls are nearing and the fact that so many such incidents are happening need to be investigated."

The explanation from the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister came after facing steep criticism from the opposition parties for calling the rape-like heinous crime a ‘political conspiracy’.

What Azam Khan said?

• There is a possibility of some opposition parties being involved in the gang-rape of woman and her daughter in Bulandshahr.
• Investigative agencies should explore into this.
• Politicians can get down to anything to get power.
• The truth has to be found out.

What the victim said?

• Azam Khan must not have mother or daughter.
• Ask me, what I am going through, says father of the teen daughter.
• Azam Khan must have done this before joining politics.
• This is why he is making such an insensitive statement.

BJP hits at Azam Khan:

• Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tagged the minister’s statement as ‘shameful’ and ‘outrageous’.
• If you cannot support the victim, at least don’t insult them, said UP BJP unit General Secretary Vijay Bahadur Pathak.
• Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav must tender an apology for his minister’s statement.