*Stepping up the heat on the Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh, the Centre on Monday asked why the stringent SC/ST Act was not invoked in the Budaun case. It also sent senior minister Ramvilas Paswan to the rape victims' family.*
The Union government's move came after Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Mayawati visited the victims' family in Budaun. Paswan is the first Union Minister to visit the families.
The selection of Paswan, a Dalit, to represent the Union Cabinet is seen as a well-thought out strategy of the NDA government to counter opponents.
Paswan was accompanied by his son and LJP MP Chirag Paswan. After the meeting with the family in Budaun, Paswan said he would take up their demands with Modi.
He blamed the Akhilesh Yadav government for the deteriorating law and order in the state and demanded that a permanent police camp be set up in the village as the entire family is scared.
Demanding speedy trial of the case, he said the accused should be given exemplary punishment.
Chirag took a dig Mulayam Singh Yadav and indicated that the SP supremo's recent controversial statement could have encouraged the accused.
Mulayam had, during an election rally in April, questioned the death penalty for rape, saying "mistakes" by boys happen sometimes.
Echoing his son, Paswan was quoted as saying by the PTI, "He said that at times, boys may commit mistakes. This incident is the result of that statement." Reported by Deccan Herald 14 hours ago.
The Union government's move came after Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Mayawati visited the victims' family in Budaun. Paswan is the first Union Minister to visit the families.
The selection of Paswan, a Dalit, to represent the Union Cabinet is seen as a well-thought out strategy of the NDA government to counter opponents.
Paswan was accompanied by his son and LJP MP Chirag Paswan. After the meeting with the family in Budaun, Paswan said he would take up their demands with Modi.
He blamed the Akhilesh Yadav government for the deteriorating law and order in the state and demanded that a permanent police camp be set up in the village as the entire family is scared.
Demanding speedy trial of the case, he said the accused should be given exemplary punishment.
Chirag took a dig Mulayam Singh Yadav and indicated that the SP supremo's recent controversial statement could have encouraged the accused.
Mulayam had, during an election rally in April, questioned the death penalty for rape, saying "mistakes" by boys happen sometimes.
Echoing his son, Paswan was quoted as saying by the PTI, "He said that at times, boys may commit mistakes. This incident is the result of that statement." Reported by Deccan Herald 14 hours ago.