UP Governor Asks Why Rape-Accused Gayatri Prajapati Is Still A Minister

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik has written to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, asking why rape-accused minister Gayatri Prajapati still has a place in his cabinet. Mr Prajapati has been accused of gang-raping a woman. A case has been registered against him following the orders of the Supreme Court and his passport has been revoked. In face of possible arrest, the Samajwadi Party candidate from the high profile Amethi seat has gone missing.

"His remaining a minister in the cabinet and no action being taken against him raises serious questions on democratic sanctity, constitutional integrity and morality," read a communique from the Governor's House.

The Samajwadi Party has been caught in a Catch 22 situation over Mr Prajapati -- a first-time legislator from a backward caste, known to be close to the state's first family. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had sacked him from the cabinet last September after he was accused of owning more assets than his known sources of income. But he was reinstated within days, which was seen as a result of his closeness with party patriarch Mulayam Singh.

Since the rape case was filed against Mr Prajapati, the opposition BJP and BSP have been targetting the state's ruling party for the lack of an arrest -- pushing the Chief Minister to cancel a programme where the two were expected to share dais. Samajwadi Party leaders indicate that there are concerns that Mr Prajapati's arrest may further play into the hands of the opposition amid the mammoth seven-phase assembly elections in the state.

The family of the woman, meanwhile, has shifted to Delhi, saying they were being harassed by the Uttar Pradesh Police. The woman has alleged that she was being exploited on the promise of a position in the party and sand mining contracts. She had moved Supreme Court after her complaints to the police were allegedly ignored.

The woman's 16-year-old daughter -- who alleged that she was attacked and attempts were made to rape her -- is admitted in the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences. The doctors say she gets panic attacks, often wakes up at night and had tried to run away from her ward. Last week, her statement was recorded by the Uttar Pradesh Police.