Gayatri Prajapati case: Guv should have asked EC instead of Akhilesh, says JD(U)

New Delhi [India] March 6 (ANI): A day after Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik sought Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's reply on rape-accused Samajwadi Party leader Gayatri Prajapati's continuation as cabinet minister, the Janata Dal (United) said the former should have asked the Election Commission (EC) instead of to the Chief Minister. "The Governor should know that currently the Akhilesh Yadav Government is caretaker and the EC is running the government. Therefore, the governor should write to the EC instead of the Chief Minister," JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav told ANI. Yadav further said Prajapati should follow the law and surrender himself before it. "He is not only an MLA, but, also a minister and should follow the law," he added. The Uttar Pradesh Governor yesterday wrote to Akhilesh Yadav, seeking his clarification over rape-accused Prajapati's continuation as a minister in the cabinet. Earlier, the Uttar Pradesh Police had issued non-bailable warrants against Prajapati and six others in connection with the rape charges. Prajapati's passport was revoked for four weeks to prevent him from attempting to flee out of the country. Earlier this week, the police also initiated proceedings for a look out notice against Prajapati following reports that he may try to escape abroad to evade arrest. On February 20, Prajapati moved the Supreme Court against its order of registering an FIR against him and sought protection from the arrest and recall of the apex court's earlier order. The apex court had directed the Uttar Pradesh Police to file a status report in the case within a period of eight weeks. (ANI)