Cong demands dismissal of UP govt over rise in crimes against women

Slamming the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh over the repeated incidence of crimes against women, the Congress on Wednesday demanded urgent dismissal of the State government.

New Delhi: The Congress party on Wednesday launched an attack on the Uttar Pradesh government over the repeated incidence of crimes against women in the State.

Nearly a month after the alleged gang-rape and murder of a 19-year-old Dalit girl in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh, another incident of alleged rape of a four-year-old girl by her own cousin in the district was reported.

The Congress demanded the immediate dismissal of the Uttar Pradesh Government, in order to send a strong message to criminals in the State.

"Where do these criminals derive their confidence from? Why are they so assured that there is a political blessing for them in UP? This is an unprecedented situation where people have lost confidence not just in the ability of the Government but also in the intentions of the Government," said Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera while addressing media.

He also slammed the BJP-ruled Union Government for not taking strict actions in the cases of crime against women.

"What is the Centre doing? What is the Ministry of Home Affairs doing? We want to know. Their eyes and ears are closed to crimes which we get to know every day," Khera said.

Congress even quoted the National Crime Record Bureau's data, which stated that Uttar Pradesh topped the list of crimes against women in 2019 with 59,853 incidents.

In 2019, UP had registered 3,065 rape cases, 2,024 dowry deaths of women and 144 minor girls were reportedly raped in 2018 against 139 in 2017.

Congress also accused the ruling BJP of indulging into "victim shaming" and supporting the criminals.

"A strong message needs to be sent to the criminals that they would be no political blessings upon them and it can only be done when the Government of UP is dismissed immediately. Otherwise, UP will continue to make headlines for all the wrong reasons," Khera added.