Shimla rape case: BJP asks Virbhadra Singh to resign in 48 hrs

Shimla: Leader of the Opposition PK Dhumal on Monday asked Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to take moral responsibility for the alleged rape and murder of a girl and resign within 48 hours.

Dhumal, who visited the victim's family in Kotkhai, warned that if Singh failed to quit, BJP workers led by women activists would stage dharnas at all 7,479 polling booths in the state to seek justice for the girl.

"It is a very serious and sensitive issue, and should not be politicised. But, the manner in which the government handled it, the credibility of the police has been completely eroded. The government was forced to refer the case to the CBI," he said.

"The CBI has, now, taken over the probe and the people should fearlessly provide credible evidence to the investigating agency," the former chief minister said. He alleged that the police had committed one mistake after the other and claimed that the "tardy" investigations had led to huge public outcry which the government had failed to contain.

"The family members of the victim are deeply hurt by the attempts of the police to frame innocent people in false cases to save the real culprits," Dhumal said. The BJP leader said his party was with the victim's family and would render all possible help to them.

However, Singh accused the BJP of politicising the issue and said the government would render all assistance to the CBI for bringing the culprits to book. He told reporters in Kinnaur that the Congress would contest the Assembly polls under his leadership and win with a majority.