GUWAHATI, Aug 12 - The Congress has called for resignation of Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain, against whom a police case has been registered for allegedly raping a 24-year-old married woman in Nagaon district.
Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) general secretary and senior spokesperson Apurba Bhattacharya said that Gohain�s resignation is necessary to ensure a free and fair investigation into the case.
�BJP always claims to be a party with a difference. If the BJP really believes in morality, then Prime Minister Narendra Modi should ensure that Gohain no longer remains a part of his ministry. A case has been filed and the law clearly states that in this type of cases, investigation has to be completed even if the complainant seeks to withdraw the case for some reason,� said Bhattacharya.
He added, �Why are the BJP and the government mute? Do they think common people of this country are fools and have no knowledge of the law? If such a case had been filed against a common person, that individual would have been behind bars now. There should be a thorough inquiry into the matter. The audio clips and phone recordings related to the case should be examined scientifically.�
The Congress leader also called upon the police to probe the matter impartially.
All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) also called for a proper inquiry into the case.
�What are the circumstances which led the complainant to seek to withdraw the case? What exactly transpired? Things look very suspicious. Let Rajen Gohain come out in open and deny any involvement in the entire episode,� said Champak Kalita, general secretary and spokesperson of AIUDF.
Kalita said that Nagaon Police should suo moto file a case against Gohain under the provisions of the Human Trafficking Act based on the contents of the audio clip that has surfaced.
Asked if the AIUDF would seek Gohain�s resignation from the Union Ministry, Kalita said, �This is no longer the BJP of stalwarts like Atal Behari Vajpayee and Lal Krishna Advani. The moral bankruptcy of the BJP has come out openly before the people. Gohain is not the first BJP leader to face this kind of charge. In last few years, more than 40 senior BJP leaders across India have faced such charges.�
The ruling BJP, however, ruled out Gohain�s resignation.
�Law will take its own course. Has anything been proven? Anyone can make allegations. Tomorrow I can also level allegations against some Opposition leader. However, an allegation by itself is not a proof of guilt. Let there be a proper inquiry and all things will become clear,� said a senior State BJP leader who, however, did not wish to be named.
