"Shameless behaviour": BJP's Dinesh Sharma slams Akhilesh Yadav for demanding DNA test of Ayodhya gang rape accused

New Delhi [India], August 4 : Hitting out at Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav over his demand to conduct a DNA test of the main accused in the Ayodhya gang rape case, Bharatiya Janata Party MP Dinesh Yadav on Sunday termed it "shameless behaviour" and said that the first priority in providing justice to the victim is punishing the criminal.
Sharma said that the Samajwadi Party should at least take action against the person associated with the party. Notably, SP leader Moeed Khan is the main accused in the gang rape case of a 12-year-old girl.
Speaking to ANI, Dinesh Sharma said, "Punishing the criminals is the first priority in providing justice to the victim. Victims' suffering who belong to an extremely backward class cannot be removed with money. Instead of demanding punishment for the criminal, Samajwadi Party leaders are saying that a DNA test should be done, this is very shameless behaviour. They should at least take action against that person associated with the party."
This came after Akhilesh Yadav echoed similar sentiments as Faizabad MP Awadhesh Prasad and demanded a DNA test be conducted in the case of the gang rape of a minor girl.
"In the case of misdeeds, the way for justice should be found by getting DNA tests done on those who are accused, and not by merely making allegations and doing politics. Whoever is guilty should be given full punishment according to the law, but if the allegations are proven false after the DNA test, then the government officials involved should also not be spared. This is the demand for justice," the former CM said in a post on X.
SP leader Moeed Khan and his house help are accused of raping and blackmailing a 12-year-old girl who worked as a daily wage employee at Khan's home in Ayodhya.
A case has been filed against the SP leader for allegedly threatening the family of the rape victim to settle the case. Khan was arrested on Thursday for raping the girl for over two months.
Later, a case was filed against the SP leader for threatening the family of the rape victim.
The Ayodhya district administration on Saturday demolished the "illegally constructed" bakery of accused Moeed Khan.
Earlier, Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati also slammed the Samajwadi Party over its demand of DNA test and asked how many DNA tests were done against such accused during SP-rule in the state.
"The strict action being taken by the UP government against the accused in the Ayodhya gangrape case is justified, but what should be understood by SP saying that the DNA test of the accused should be done. Whereas SP should also tell how many DNA tests have been done against such accused in their government," she said on X.
"Also, amidst the growing concerns about crime control and law and order in UP, especially about women's safety and harassment, the incidents in Ayodhya and Lucknow, etc. are extremely sad and worrying. It would be better if the government took strict steps to prevent these by rising above caste, community and politics," Mayawati added.