The entire nation has been grieving over the barbaric Kathua and Unnao rape cases. It has brought to light the issue of the lack of safety for women, and highlighted the need to take stringent measures to rein in depraved minds in the society. At a time when the nation was shaken by the inhumane crimes in Kathua and Unnao, a section of politicians and journalists have tried to use even this issue as a mode of garnering votes.
In yet another instance of shoddy journalism, The Quint, an agenda-driven news website, sought to politicize the Unnao and Kathua rape cases. At a time when they should have acted in a mature manner, they tried to take a potshot at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP. The Quint added a story this morning, with the title “Here’s What PM Narendra Modi Said about the Kathua and Unnao Rapes”. The story contain(ed) nothing, apart from a footnote claiming that it will be updated once the Prime Minister actually speaks on the two rape cases. [The Story has now been updated after PM Modi said that the “guilty” will not be spared, while speaking at the inauguration of the Ambedkar Memorial in New Delhi]
However, it seems that in order to derive political mileage out of the heart-wrenching rape cases, the website found it convenient to publish this despite knowing fully well that the PMO had indeed intervened and that things started moving in this case only after this intervention. The bit about the intervention is available on the website since yesterday evening.
The fact remains that the PMO had already intervened in the Unnao rape case and that it was after this intervention that the rape case was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
#Unnao rape case handed over to Central Bureau of Investigation upon Prime Minister's Office's (PMO) intervention: Sources
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) April 12, 2018
Later, it was reported that BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Senger, the main accused in the rape case, has been detained by the CBI. This clearly shows that contrary to the suggestion made by The Quint article, Prime Minister Modi did act. His actions are speaking for themselves and he is exercising his authority when needed the most. The case was transferred to the CBI yesterday and the CBI took immediate action, showing how Prime Minister Modi has done what was needed. Actions speak louder than words and his actions are doing all the talking. When one has the power to act, and does exercise that power appropriately, what is the need to speak about it? The Quint however failed to take cognizance of what happened yesterday evening while going ahead with the publication of this sarcastic piece today morning.
#WATCH Earlier visuals of BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Senger, main accused in Unnao rape case, detained by CBI. pic.twitter.com/k9krGucGD1
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) April 13, 2018
At this point of time, not only The Quint, but all political parties and media outlets must understand that we must stand together in solidarity against the perpetrators of this heinous crime. Kindly indulge in all the political bickering that you want to, but not in this case. It is time to act humane and not to use the tragic crimes that occurred in Kathua and Unnao for fetching votes and pushing a political agenda.
