New Delhi:
Congress workers climbed over the barricades placed outside the BJP's headquarters in Delhi in a protest that demands the urgent removal of union minister Nihalchand Meghwal, accused by a woman in Jaipur of raping her. (
Congress Seeks Nihalchand Meghwal's Resignation)
The opposition Congress has said that the PM must explain why he delivers speeches on the safety of women but has refused to penalize a member of his govt. "This is the real face of the Modi government, all their claims sound hollow," said Shobha Oza of the Congress.
At a press conference yesterday in Jaipur, the 24-year-old married woman who has accused the minister of rape appealed to the Prime Minister to sack the minister. In 2011, she complained to the police that the politician had raped her along with 16 others. She has challenged a decision by the local police to close the case against the leader, which was accepted by a lower court. Another court now has asked Mr Meghwal to appear on August 20 to offer his response on why the case should not be re-opened. (
'Was Told Not to Take on Powerful Men': Rape Survivor who Named Union Minister)
"I will write to the Prime Minister and seek action against the minister.... The minister must be immediately dismissed from government," said Mamata Sharma, the chairperson of the women's rights group.
Nihalchand, the 43-year-old junior minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers, is the only parliamentarian from Rajasthan in Prime Minister Modi's cabinet.