By Mudassir Kuloo
Srinagar, Apr 16: A senior leader of the Bharatiya Janta Party on Monday said that it was “not possible” for the government to refer the Kuthua case to Central Bureau of Investigation.
BJP National Vice President, Avinesh Rai Khanna, said that it was “prerogative” for the court to take any decision into the case.
“I am also a lawyer and know that government cannot refer now case to CBI as the charge sheet has been submitted by the Crime Branch,” Khanna told reporters on the sidelines of the BJP’s youth wing convention organized by Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) here.
“We want that justice should be delivered to the eight-year-old girl and culprits are punished without harassing the innocent. It is responsibility of the government to maintain law and order,” he said.
The Crime Branch of Jammu and Kashmir Police has submitted a charge sheet in the case against eight accused, including two special police officers and a sub-inspector and a head constable for destroying evidence.
The body of the girl was recovered from the Rassana forest in January, a week after she went missing from the area while grazing horses.
The BJP leaders have been demanding the CBI probe into the rape-and-murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua.
However, for the last few days, the party has softened its stand since there is outrage in India and abroad against the rape and murder of eight-year-old Muslim girl.
BJP leaders Chander Prakash Ganga and Lal Singh, who resigned as ministers also demanded for a CBI inquiry.
They said that they resigned to “save the image” of the Prime Minister and the party following a controversy over their presence in a rally in support of the accused. However, Khanna said that they were told by the party to resign to respect the “public sentiments”.
“To safeguard the interest of Jammu, I will not hesitate to fight the government or meet the Prime Minister personally and reiterate the demand for a CBI probe into the Kathua rape-and-murder case which is the demand of lakhs of people,” Ganga had said.
Meanwhile, Khanna while addressing few dozen Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) activists asked them to strengthen the party.
BJP General Secretary Ashok Koul stressed the activists to ensure that party gets stronger in every corner of the Valley.
BJP General Secretary Narindar Singh also addressed the convention.
