Guj govt shielding BJP leaders facing rape charges: Dhanani

AHMEDABAD: Women in the BJP-ruled Gujarat are feeling unsafe because the state government is shielding the party leaders facing rape charges, senior Congress leader Paresh Dhanani alleged on Wednesday.

Referring to the FIR registered against former BJP MLA Jayanti Bhanushali for allegedly raping a woman, the leader of opposition said the saffron leader was booked only after the issue was taken up by the media.

Bhanushali is yet to be arrested by the police.

Dhanani's remarks came days after Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani had said the state government will remain neutral and won't influence the ongoing probe into the case.

"The BJP government is doing a lip service to the cause of women by floating slogans like 'Save Girl Child'. In Gujarat, five women are raped in two days while 18 women go missing every day. It is unfortunate that the ruling BJP prefers to remain silent when women are subjected to such atrocities," Dhanani told reporters in Gandhinagar.

He said women in the state are feeling unsafe because of the "involvement" of the BJP leaders in incidents like rape.

"Moreover, the BJP government is shielding its leaders by not taking action against them," he alleged.

Referring to the Naliya gang-rape case, in which some local BJP leaders of Kutch were made accused, Dhanani said such incidents have "exposed the true character of the BJP".

Of all the accused involved in crimes against women, only 3 per cent were actually convicted, he claimed.

The Congress leader appealed to the chief minister to take stern action against those involved in such crimes.