Srinagar: Members of the nomadic Muslim Bakerwal community on Saturday staged a protest in Srinagar demanding the shifting of trial in Kathua rape and murder case outside Jammu. The protesters said they apprehend that hindrances will be created in the way of trial by those elements who do not want justice to be delivered.
“Everybody knows how Kathua-based lawyers tried to block Crime Branch from filing charge sheet in the case. Even counsel representing the victim was threatened,” a group of Bakarwals, who had gathered from across the state under the banner of Jammu and Kashmir Youth Bakerwal Association, told Greater Kashmir.
The protesters said two BJP ministers, Chaudhary Lal Singh and Chandra Prakash Ganga, should not only be “sacked” from the cabinet but from running for any political post for their whole lives.
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On Friday, the two BJP ministers, Singh and Ganga, who had rallied in support of the accused in Kathua rape resigned from the Jammu and Kashmir cabinet.
Earlier, the BJP had said that both the ministers were ‘misled and misguided by a few people.’
“Is it a crime to get misled?” Meenakshi Lekhi, the BJP Spokesperson asked, adding that the people get misled and this can happen with anyone.
The main opposition party National Conference had said that they will consider a civil disobedience movement against the government if they fail to take action against the ‘erring ministers’.
Former chief minister Omar Abdullah also told CM Mehbooba Mufti to sack the two ministers the way she sacked former Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu.
Ganga, the Industries Minister, earlier had said that he was satisfied with the investigation of the Crime Branch and the culprits involved in the rape and murder case of the minor girl should be hanged.
