Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of politicising the recent gangrape of a mother and daughter off a national highway in Bulandshahr and said he was ready for a CBI investigation if family members asked for it.
"It is the Opposition which is trying to rake up the issue for political benefit," the 43-year-old Chief Minister said after the BJP called Yadav's Government "incompetent" and demanded a CBI enquiry into the rape and robbery incident.
Yadav questioned the closed door meeting between BJP leaders and the victim’s family and said, "If this is not politics, then what isIJ"
Talking to reporters in the State capital, Yadav appeared almost to defend his Cabinet colleague, Urban Development Minister Azam Khan who had alleged that the gangrape could have been a political conspiracy and should be investigated.
Azam Khan received a fusillade of criticism for his comment from Opposition political parties, women's groups, as well as the victim family's members
Yadav also targeted the media and said people with make-up on, sitting in cool confines of their studios make wrong interpretations of some issues.
Yadav said the incident was unfortunate and that his Government had taken strictest action.