BJP demands Harish Rawat's resignation over rape victim's allegation

Dehradun, August 4: Uttarakhand BJP has demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Harish Rawat following allegations made by a woman in connection with a rape case lodged against BJP leader Harak Singh Rawat, saying "conspirators had no right to remain in power".

Making a U-turn, a woman who had accused Harak Singh Rawat of raping her in an FIR, has alleged that she had done so under pressure from Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat.

"Harish Rawat has lost the moral right to stay in office after forcing a woman through his henchmen to lodge a false FIR against Harak Singh Rawat by threatening her with dire consequences if she refused," state BJP President Ajay Bhatt said in a statement here late last evening.

Claiming that the revelations made by the woman vindicate the BJP's stand, the Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, said the party smelt a conspiracy behind the FIR from day one. Law should take its course and the real culprits behind the conspiracy should be brought to book, Bhatt said.

The conspiracy also proves that Harish Rawat is baying for the blood of all former Congress legislators and ministers who revolted against him and are now with the BJP.

"It further substantiates our charge that false cases are being registered against all leaders who had revolted against Harish Rawat. Be it Kunwar Pravanav Singh Champion, Pradip Batra or the husband of former Congress MLA Rekha Arya who voted against him during floor test in the Assembly, all of them have been framed in false cases," Bhatt said.

The woman had alleged in her complaint to the Safdarjung police station that Harak Singh raped her at his residence in the posh Green Park area on July 29. Rawat was among the nine Congress MLAs who had revolted against Congress' government in the state assembly on March 18.

He is now with BJP along with the rest of the rebel MLAs.

PTI