LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of politicising the recent gang-rape of a mother-daughter duo off a national highway in Bulandshahr and said he was ready for a CBI investigation.
"It is the opposition which is trying to rake up the issue for political benefits," the 43-year-old Chief Minister said after the BJP called Yadav's government "incompetent" and demanded a CBI inquiry into the rape and robbery incident.
Yadav questioned the meeting behind closed doors between BJP leaders and the victim family and said, "If this is not politics, then what is?"
Talking to reporters in the state capital, Yadav appeared almost defending his cabinet colleague, Urban Development minister Mohd Azam Khan who had alleged that the gang-rape could have been a political conspiracy and should be investigated.
Azam Khan received a fusillade of criticism for his comment from opposition political parties, women's groups, as well as the victim family's members
Yadav also targeted the media and said people with make-up on, sitting in cool confines of their studios make wrong interpretations of some issues.
Yadav said the incident was unfortunate and that his government had taken strictest action.