AAP women MLAs demand Punjab CM's resignation over Tanda rape case

Woman MLAs from the Aam Aadmi Party demanded the resignation of Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh over the Tanda rape case, accusing him of failing to maintain the law and order situation in the state.

Chandigarh: Women MLAs of the Aam Aadmi Party condemned the rape of a six-year-old girl in Tanda, and hit out at Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh for his failure to maintain law and order in the state.

In a statement issued by the party, the women legislators said Chief Minister Amarinder Singh was solely responsible for the crime as he was unable to bring law and order in the state. The MLAs demanded that Singh, resign from his post of Chief Minister and also step down as the state home minister.

In the statement, deputy leader of opposition Sarvjeet Kaur Manuke, Baljinder Kaur, and Rupinder Kaur Ruby alleged that the police force was "destroyed" due to corruption and the involvement of big leaders in police functioning.

An atmosphere of insecurity and fear has been created in the state while at the same time anti-social elements and criminals are gaining confidence. Despite all this, the Chief Minister of Punjab, enjoying in his farm house, cannot hear the cries of the rape victims or their families, the MLAs said.

"The situation hasn't changed from the Badal regime to the Captain regime. The rate of crime is increasing instead of decreasing. As per government records, in 2018-19 alone 5,058 cases of rape were registered, out of which only 30 per cent were convicted while the rest 70 per cent are still awaiting justice," Manuke said.

Read:BJP attacks Congress over 'rape-and-murder' of minor girl in Punjab

Meanwhile, the AAP women MLAs also objected to Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's 'picnic' jibe at Congress leaders over the rape case.

Sitharaman had attacked Congress leaders for not having a "picnic" visit, in reference to Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi's visit to Hathras following the alleged gang-rape of a woman who died in a Delhi hospital subsequently.

"By calling the incident a picnic visit for Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, Nirmala Sitharaman has disgraced the innocent women and children who become victims to such heinous crimes. This was not expected of a woman of her stature. At a time when the entire country is seeking solidarity for the victims of Hathras and Tanda, Nirmala Sitharaman is indulging in dirty politics," the AAP MLAs said.

The women legislators further demanded that Sitharaman take her statements back and apologise to the victims of these incidents.

A six-year-old girl was allegedly raped, killed and then set on fire. Her half-burnt body was found at a house in a village in Tanda in Hoshiarpur last week.

Read:Punjab acted swiftly against crimes compared to UP: CM