File photo of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav
Under intense criticism over Badaun gang-rape and murder incident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today said that a Google search would show such crimes occurring across the country.
"When such incidents occur it is publicised a lot... such incidents don't occur only in UP and if I give you statistics across the country you will again ask me questions. It's Google era. If you go online and check you will see where else such incidents occur," Mr Yadav told reporters on Tuesday.
The Chief Minister also accused the media of playing up incidents taking place in Uttar Pradesh.
Mr Yadav said that the state government has taken action whether it is the Badaun case or any other similar incidents.
"Badaun or any other incidents in the state, the government has taken stern action on them. In Badaun whatever steps the government could take, it took. Decision on CBI inquiry has also been taken. Wherever incident took place in the state, action has been taken," he said.
The Uttar Pradesh government had on Monday directed authorities to launch a helpline in every district of the state to deal with women harassment complaints.
Meanwhile, the family of the two young girls who were gang-raped and found hanging from a tree in Badaun, have said they are being threatened.
"We are feeling scared, we are being threatened that the media will leave, leaders will leave but the government will stay for three more years. They say hum mahabharat kar dengey (we'll cause a war)," the father on one of the girls said on Monday.
The tiny village has been overrun with politicians and media teams since the day the two girls, cousins aged 14 and 15, were found dead, which caused global outrage.
The girls' families have now demanded that central forces be deployed to protect them as they do not trust the state police.