BJP State president Tirath Singh Rawat alleged on Wednesday that the State Government is trying all means to cover up the rape and abortion case involving a physically challenged inmate of  Nari Niketan to shield the real culprits involved in it. He said it was unfortunate that the matter had come to light only after  Chief Minister Harish Rawat, Uttarakhand Pradesh Mahila Congress Committee president Sarita Arya and Dehradun additional DM (finance) Jharna Kamthan had visited Nari Niketan. “One wonders over whether things would have remained hidden from the public view had it not burst into focus thanks to some videos that  revealed the rot,” he said. He demanded CBI enquiry in the case.

He slammed the State government for its alleged nonchalance regarding the plight of the inmates of Nari Niketan, which has been hogging adverse limelight now with inmates either dying or falling ill at regular intervals. “We are sure that the  State Government is trying to protect some high- profile persons involved in the case. Besides, the State government’s decision to leave the home in Haridwar to the care of NGOs is wrong. We have learnt that the NGO will be given `80 lakh per annum for the care of the inmates. We wonder whether the  inmates would be secure when they are insecure  in the government –run shelter homes,” he said. 

He suggested that the government should equip Nari Niketan with all facilities. “Things can change for the better if the State government agrees to spend around `10 to `15 lakh,” the BJP leader said.

He asked  the government to explain what  is stopping them from arranging potable drinking water, nutritious food, blankets  and other necessary items to the  inmates.

Notably, two inmates have died in a span of two days and eight more have been admitted to the Doon Hospital after they were found ill in the last few days. Before this, the home came up into the collective critical glare after a hearing and speech impaired inmate was found to have been raped and forced to abort her fetus.

 “It is apathetic towards the predicament of the wretched women staying there under the Government’s protection,” he said, demanding a high level probe to get into the bottom of the matter and bring to book the culprits who had perpetrated the heinous crime of raping a physically challenged inmate.

He said things were now crystal clear, given the grim procession of deaths and the number of inmates being taken ill, that the officers responsible for protecting them are not doing their jobs effectively. “The government cannot shirk its responsibility of ensuring health, security and normal life of the inmates enrolled in the Nari Niketan,” he said.

He said things were now crystal clear, given the grim procession of deaths and the number of inmates being found ill, that the officers responsible for protecting them are not doing their jobs effectively. “The Government cannot shirk its responsibility of ensuring health, security and normal life of the inmates enrolled in the Nari Niketan,” he said.