M A I N   N E W S

UP rape horror
Akhilesh sacks Home Secy
Shahira Naim
Tribune News Service

Lucknow, June 2
The Badaun rape case threatens to snowball into a political crisis for the Akhilesh Yadav government.

The axe has now fallen on Principal Secretary (Home) AK Gupta, who has been removed from his post and has been put on the waiting list. Defending the state government, Samajwadi Party national general secretary Ramgopal Yadav said political parties were trying to draw political mileage out of the unfortunate incident.

"A CBI enquiry has been recommended. The case had been handed over to the fast-track court, the accused, including policemen, have been arrested, compensation has been given to the families and the district police are collecting evidence to corroborate the charges. What more can be done? Why don't political leaders visit a woman who was raped at Bhayander in Mumbai two days ago?" he asked.

Meanwhile, members of the BJP women's wing led by state party president Laxmikant Bajpai marched towards the Chief Minister's secretariat this morning to submit a memorandum.

They laid a siege to the CM's office and shouted anti-government slogans for its failure on the law and order front. They also asked the CM to wear bangles. The police used water cannons to disperse the protesters. Later, a 12-member delegation led by BJP women wing's state president Kamlawati Singh and six women MPs met Principal Secretary (Home) AK Gupta.

Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan and his son Chirag visited Badaun's Katra Sadaatganj village to meet the families of two girls who were gangraped and murdered last week.

Maneka blasts state govt

Women and Child Development (WCD) Minister Maneka Gandhi on Monday termed the UP Government as "insensitive." "Insensitive, they are. I say this government should go...,” she said.

CM meets Governor

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Monday met Governor BL Joshi. Sources claimed that he reportedly apprised the Governor of the action taken by his government in the Badaun rape case.