The Supreme Court on Monday sought an explanation from Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan on his remark about the Bulandshahr gang rape victims. Khan had said that the incident was a political conspiracy and that the Opposition can stoop to any level for leverage ahead of the Assembly elections in the state.
The apex court issued a notice to Khan and the Uttar Pradesh government over the plea of the victims seeking transfer of the case from the state. The court also appointed Fali S Nariman as amicus curiae to examine if a person in power can be allowed to comment on rape cases that may shake the victim's faith. The court questioned the leader why a criminal case shouldn't be lodged against Khan. Also, the court has stayed the CBI probe on the incident until the issue of transfer of trial is decided.
"Why should people in power and authority make such statement which shakes faith of victim in justice delivery system," the court said, calling the statement "objectionable and insensitive."
The court also questioned whether such statements fall under the ambit of freedom of speech or defeat of principles of constitutional compassion.
To get power, politicians can get down to any level, they can murder people, trigger riots, kill innocent people, so the truth has to be found out ... The government needs to keep a watch on its political opponents because "people can stoop to any level" in politics," Khan had said.
On July 30, a woman and her 14-year-old daughter were gang-raped off the highway in Bulandshahr by highway robbers. The two females were separated from the rest of the family and assaulted for hours. The incident had gathered massive criticism against the state of law and order in Uttar Pradesh. The incident had occurred very close to a police post.
Later, politicians like Azam Khan had downplayed the incident, calling it a "political conspiracy." The 14-year-old victim then moved the Supreme Court, seeking transfer of the case to Delhi as she did not trust the government machinery of UP.
