BJP questions Cong's silence on crimes in R'than

New Delhi, Aug 17 (IANS) The BJP on Wednesday questioned the silence of Congress' top leadership over increasing incidents of crime against women, atrocities against Dalits and mob lynching in Rajasthan.

Citing the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said: "Rajasthan is setting new records in crimes against women, atrocities against Dalits, and religious vandalism. Today, Rajasthan is at number one in the cases of rape in the country, second in terms of trafficking of minor girls."

"Congress' top leaders including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra come to the state for vacation but never say anything about the deteriorating law and order situation there," he said while addressing a press conference at BJP headquarters here.

Shekhawat noted that on August 15, when the country was celebrating Independence Day, a young man named Chiranjilal, who earned his livelihood by selling vegetables in a village in Rajasthan's Alwar district, was beaten to death by the members of Muslim community.

The Union Minister mentioned that in the last three years, Rajasthan has set new records in mob lynching, abuse against women, and crimes against religion of a particular community.

"Where have Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and the champions of human rights been since such a big incident happened in Rajasthan?" he questioned.

Shekhawat said Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, who shed crocodile tears on incidents in Hathras and Unnao, should break their silence on the situation in Rajasthan too.