‘Gang-rape’ triggers bedlam in U.P. House

Special Correspondent

LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh Assembly witnessed unruly scenes on Friday, as the Samajwadi Party members stormed into the well of the House and later staged a dharna in protest against the Government’s “refusal” to take action against the accused in the alleged gang-rape of three to four women at a village in Shravasti district on Tuesday. The women belonged to a minority community.

The House was adjourned thrice by Speaker Sukhdev Rajbhar and the entire question hour was taken away by the SP’s protest.

The SP members alleged that a Minister of State was exerting pressure on the police to not lodge an FIR against the accused.

Raising the issue, Waqar Ahmed Shah (SP) said that around three to four women were gang-raped in Dhanipurwa village under the Sirsiya police station area in Shravasti district and no action was taken by the police even three days after the incident. The women were paraded naked by goons, said to be close to the Minister, he alleged.

Mr. Shah urged the Speaker to constitute an all-party committee to probe the incident.

When Parliamentary Affairs Minister Lalji Verma did not come out with any assurance, the SP members entered the well of the House and staged a dharna. Repeated pleas by the Minister and the Speaker to them to return to their seats yielded no result. As pandemonium prevailed, the Speaker adjourned the House at 11.40 a.m. The adjournment was extended twice till 12.20 pm.