“My husband is a patient of sugar and blood pressure for the last 18 years and his left kidney is also not working. With existing physical condition he cannot rape and being his wife I can say this with certainty.” This is what Asha, the wife of BSP MLA Purushottam Naresh Dwivedi told the media in January this year.

In November 2010, Neelu (name given by media) was abducted and allegedly sold in a village in UP. The village pradhan and a police constable were responsible for the abduction. The girl’s father, eventually recovered her, and went to Purushottam Naresh Dwivedi, the local MLA for help. The noble MLA was magnanimous and it was decided that the girl would stay in Purushottam’s house, where she would have adequate ‘’protection’’. It appears that over there, Neelu was raped repeatedly by Purushottam and two of his bodyguards.

After a few days, Neelu managed to escape from the clutches of Dwivendi. When the hapless girl approached the local police to

lodge a complaint, she was arrested for stealing the MLA’s licenced rifle and Rs 2 lakh. Being a minor, Neelu was entitled to protection under the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act. However, she was sent to jail, instead she should have been sent to a juvenile care centre. Finally the Gulabi Gang* came to her rescue and helped publicize her plight to the public and media. Currently the entire case is being invested by the CBI.

Behenji Mayawati decided to kick into action at some point. She suspended Dwivendi from the party. In typical UP style, Asha Dwivedi will take over the political mantle from her husband. And surprise surprise, she will probably be getting a ticket for the next elections from the Samajwadi Party (BSP’s main rival in UP).

* The Gulabi gang is a group of women vigilantes and activists originally from Banda in Bundelkhand district, Uttar Pradesh, India reported to be active across North. It is named after the pink saris worn by its members.

Copyright secured by Digiprove