It's difficult to imagine the political slugfest that is going on over the gangrape of a woman and her 14-year-old daughter in Bulandshahr. On Wednesday, it hit a new low.
A senior BJP leader attacked Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan saying that he would feel the intensity of the incident only if his "wife and daughter were gangraped".
"Miyan Azam Khan ke beti aur bibi se gang rape ho jaye tab Azam ki aankh khulegi Bulandshahr highway par 12 saal ki beti aur maa ke saath gang rape par ochhi baat kahi (Azam Khan will open his eyes only if his daughter and wife were gangraped. He has made absurd comments on the gangrape of the 12-year-old girl and her mother in Bulandshahr)," state BJP spokesperson I P Singh said in a tweet.
His comments come two days after Azam Khan suggested that the Bulandshahr gangrape could be an outcome of political conspiracy against the ruling party, drawing condemnation from rival parties.
"We need to investigate whether this is a conspiracy by opponents who want to defame the government," said the Samajwadi party leader, known to invite trouble with his loose talk.
When Singh was attacked for his remarks against Azam Khan, he stood by it. "I will not remove my tweet until Azam tenders apology for his remark," Singh said.
He claimed that the tweet was his personal view and not the BJP's.
Meanwhile, responding to Singh's statement, Khan said, "This is the culture of BJP. You can complain to one from whom you expect decent remarks."