Srinagar: The BJP minister who had called the Crime Branch Investigation into the Kathua rape and murder case, monitored by the high court as “Jungle Raj” on Friday took a u- turn saying that he never demanded a CBI probe and that he is satisfied with the investigation.
Chander Prakash Ganga, the Industries Minister, who addressed a rally in support of the accused in the case, added that the culprits involved in the Rape and murder case of the minor girl should be hanged.
“I never asked for the CBI probe in the rape and murder case. I am satisfied with the investigations of government. The culprits should be hanged,” the minister told a TV Channel.
He however said that those who are not satisfied with the investigation can go to the CBI, High court, Supreme Court. “I am not against it,” he maintained.
The minister further said that when this brutal incident happened, he only went to Kathua to defuse the tension. “It was people there who demanded the CBI probe in the incident. I assured them that the culprits will be punished,” he said.
When asked why he had not visited the victim’s home on the same day when he addressed the rally, Ganga said that that the ‘Police did not allow us to visit her home.’
Minister for forest Chaudhary Lal Singh and minister for commerce and industries Chander Prakash Ganga, both from BJP had attended the event organised by Hindu Ekta Manch, an outfit that has been protesting against the arrests made in the case.
“Everyone wants 100 per cent justice for the victim and her family. The incident was shameful and a murder of humanity but we must ensure that the real culprits are booked and if such incidents continue to take place, no girl will feel safe. The way they (Crime Branch) have created a ‘jungle raj’ in the area, nobody will tolerate it. This is a democratic set-up and we will have to act under democratic norms,” Ganga had said while addressing villagers at Ram Lila Ground in the Kootah.
Chander Prakash Ganga (extreme left) and Chowdhary Lal Singh (2nd left) addressing a rally in Kathua.
The BJP minister had said the “illegal detention” of local youths in the garb of investigation had shaken the faith of people in the police and administrative set-up. “Justice must be given to all and injustice will not be done with anyone. For this, the government must go for a CBI inquiry and we promise that we will take up this matter with the Chief Minister tomorrow,” Ganga had said.
In his address, Lal Singh had questioned the state government’s decision not to hand over the case to the Crime Branch. “Was the district police incompetent to deal with the case after the constitution of the Special Investigating Team? The government committed a blunder when officials from Kashmir were specially called for the investigation. Were the officials from Jammu incompetent to do the investigation? The job of the government is to build confidence and not to create mistrust among people,” the BJP minister had said.
The senior minister had said that it appeared the government was afraid of ordering a CBI investigation. “Do they (government) think that the culprit will go unpunished if the case is handed over to the CBI? Is that possible?” he asked. “This government is for all and not for a particular region or people of a particular caste, creed or religion. We (BJP) too have an equal share in it (government),” he had said.
(With inputs from KNS)
