Ahmedabad: BJP is facing a big embarrassment as a rape allegation against its senior leader in Gujarat has taken new turns. The unsavoury incident has also thrown open dissension in the party, especially in the Kutch region, as a former BJP MLA too has been dragged into the row. The opposition Congress claimed that the rape case filed against former Gujarat BJP vice-president Jayanti Bhanushali is the "fallout" of "infighting" within the saffron party.
Bhanushali was booked on June 19 on the charge of raping a 21-year-old woman from Surat under the pretext of getting her admitted in a fashion designing college.
Leader of opposition in the Gujarat Assembly Paresh Dhanani said the BJP government had failed to provide a sense of security to the women in the state.
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"I demand strict action against anyone who commits such crimes against women by sitting at high positions. The BJP government has failed to give security to women despite the fact that such cases are surfacing at regular intervals," Dhanani told reporters in Gandhinagar. He said, "I believe that this latest incident of rape has surfaced because of the ongoing infighting within the ruling BJP."
Bhanushali had represented Abdasa constituency in Kutch district between 2007 and 2012.
Meanwhile, BJP leader from Kutch district and former MLA Chhabil Patel criticised Bhanushali for "indulging in such activity despite acquiring a high position in the party."
On Tuesday, a man claiming to be the former husband of the rape victim claimed that she was part of a gang involved in extorting money from politicians by making their obscene video clips.
While addressing reporters, the man alleged that his former wife had "honey trapped" around 70 to 80 people so far. He alleged that Chhabil Patel had asked him to divorce the woman a few years back and also threatened him. However, Patel claimed that he did not know the woman or her husband. He said he was being targeted by Bhanushali for being his "arch rival".
"Why that person (husband of the rape victim) did not lodged a police complaint when I threatened him? I think that he was asked to come before the media as part of a political conspiracy against me. This can be an attempt to divert the main issue," Patel told reporters.
Patel had contested the 2012 polls from Abdasa seat as a Congress nominee and defeated Bhanushali (BJP). In 2014, Patel switched sides and joined the BJP. In the subsequent bypoll, the BJP chose Patel over Bhanushali. However, Patel lost to Congress heavyweight Shaktisinh Gohil.
In the 2017 Assembly polls, Patel was once again given a ticket by the BJP. However, he lost to a Congress candidate. Patel claimed that Bhanushali still sees him as his arch rival despite being in the same party.
"He still could not digest that the party chose me over him during the elections. For him, I am still his arch rival. Thus, I believe that Bhanushali might have conspired against me. People are now seeing his true character," Patel told reporters.
"When you are holding such a high post in party, you should not indulge in such activity, even if someone lures you to do so. It seems that he has set aside all the moral values," Patel said.
(With inputs from PTI)
