Akhilesh Yadav: The recent bail given to two out of three accused in the gang rape case at IIT-BHU has triggered citywide outrage and protests. Last November, a student was brutally assailed by Kunal Pandey, Saksham Patel, and Abhishek Chauhan on the campus of IIT-BHU. This heinous crime took immediate protests by students and police action, culminating in the arrest of the accused. Nevertheless, this decision was followed by a strong backlash with the recent decision of the High Court to grant bail to Pandey and Chauhan on July 4 and July 2 respectively.
Public Outrage Over Celebration of Accused
Public anger has been palpable, particularly after it was reported that the released accused were celebrated with flowers and garlands upon their bail. The third accused, Patel, remains in jail as his bail plea was denied by the Varanasi fast track court. Their release has generated widespread condemnation, ranging from social media, whereby people have voiced their dismay and concern about the perceived leniency of the legal system.
Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and currently a Member of Parliament, Akhilesh Yadav has been in the forefront of outrage. On Twitter, Yadav attacked the bail order, accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of orchestrating the controversial legal clearance the men received. Yadav slammed the BJP for reportedly rejoicing in the release of the accused and asked if affiliation with his party accorded them that immunity. He expressed deep concern about the message this sends to the women of the country and called for accountability from the BJP.
Akhilesh Yadav’s Critique of BJP
Yadav’s statement reflects a larger debate at the crossroads of politics and justice, where high-profile cases are causing commoners to lose faith in the rule of law. The statements from the former CM have loaded the guns for the raging debate on the handling of sexual violence cases and the responsibilities of political organs in such affairs.
Therefore, the BHU gang rape case has brought back the debate on the urgent need to reassess the judicial and social responses to sexual violence and the role of political influence in high-stake legal decisions.