Bulandshar gang-rape: Unperturbed by SC's notice, Azam Khan stands by his remarks

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) (India), Aug.29 (ANI): Post the Supreme Court cracked its whip on Uttar Pradesh Government and its Cabinet Minister Azam Khan for making controversial statement on Bulandshar gang-rape incident, the Samajwadi Party leader on Monday asserted that there was nothing wrong in his comments and that he still stands by it. Emphasizing that he did not intend to hurt sentiments of any individual or political party Khan said that a minister has to look in to all aspects and find the cause behind an incident. "I said it earlier and I will say it today again that it is right of a minister to see what is the cause behind an incident, how my this motive has hurt the sentiments of any political party or any rape victim," said Khan. "We want that rape should be penalized the way it has been mentioned in Islam, the guilty should be shamed in such cases. The justice should be given to a rape victim within a week. And if any victim thinks that I have belittled her sentiments, I will say there is no scope of that," he added. Earlier in the day, the apex court issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh Government and senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan over a Bulandshahr rape victims' plea seeking a transfer of the case out of the state. While issuing a notice, the apex court pulled up both the Samajwadi Party-led state government and Azam Khan for their unwarranted comments. The Supreme Court said that calling an incident of rape a 'conspiracy' cannot be called freedom of speech and that it defeats principles of constitutional compassion. The apex court also said that statements issued by political leaders like Azam Khan, affect the public and to create mistrust in the investigation and the entire system. Khan had earlier hinted at a political conspiracy behind the gang-rape of the mother-daughter duo in Bulandshahr. Khan said that a desperate opposition could stoop to any level to defame and disgrace the government since the state elections are approaching. (ANI)