Mayawati slams BJP for defending Nihal Chand

NEW DELHI: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Friday condemned the Narendra Modi-led NDA Government for defending Union minister of state for chemicals and fertilizers Nihal Chand Meghwal, who is an accused in a sexual assault case.

Talking exclusively to ANI, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati said that the Modi government’s response to the sexual assault charges against Nihal Chand had left her very dissatisfied and displeased.

She said, “Before elections, the BJP and Narendra Modi had made tall claims and promises regarding the issue of women security, but now, this government is insensitive towards the plight of a woman who has been molested by their own minister.”

“They are accepting their old standards of defending and making excuses to save one of their own. The woman is going door-to-door in her quest to receive justice. This was not expected of the Modi government,” she added.

A sexual assault case was registered in 2010 by a woman at the Vaishali Nagar Police Station in Jaipur. The case was later closed, but the victim challenged the decision in a court which issued summons to all of the 18 accused.

Political leaders have slammed the BJP for failing to take any action against Nihal Chand and demands have been pouring in for his resignation.