Janta Dal-United (JD-U) gave a poll ticket to former Bihar social welfare minister, Kumari Manju Varma, who is one of the accused in the infamous Muzaffarpur shelter home rape case.
While the country is boiling over Hathras gang rape and murder case, for Indian politicians it is just another day of politicking and planning how to win the next elections.
Kumari Manju Devi name was part of the list JD-U released of 115 candidates on Wednesday.
पार्टी द्वारा विधानसभा चुनाव के लिए जारी अधिकृत प्रत्याशियों की सूची
👇👇👇 pic.twitter.com/lNES16VrZu— Janata Dal (United) (@Jduonline) October 7, 2020
Muzaffarpur Shelter Home Rape case refers to a shelter home called “Sewa Sankalp Evam Vikas Samiti” where Mumbai’s Tata Institute of Social Sciences reported cases of repeated sexual abuse, rape and torture in May 2018. A medical examination confirmed that 34 out of 42 of those living at the shelter were sexually abused. The girls, aged 7-14 were allegedly scalded with boiling water, raped and forced to sleep naked at the state-funded shelter home. 11 girls were also missing from the house, who were allegedly murdered. Many girls also allegedly were forced into abortions.
Manju Varma’s husband, Chandrashekhar Varma was reportedly a close friend of the main accused in the case, Brajesh Thakur, and regularly visited the home. When the CBI investigated their house, a 50 live cartridges were found. The couple was charged under the arms act.
After she was accused of the case, Manju Varma became “untraceable” for a week, but eventually surrendered. She denied all charges brought against her during trial in the case.
Two months after the case was registered, she resigned from the cabinet. During the time Nitesh Kumar was heavily criticised for fielding her. The decision to add her to the list now has also proven to be controversial.
JD-U leader Sanjay Singh defended the party’s decision states, “She is not an accused in the case and was arrested for possessing illegal arms and ammunition. What is wrong in fielding her to contest elections?” Singh said. However, JD-U ally BJP has remained quiet on the matter.
Leader of All India Progressive Women’s Association said that the JD-U has exposed its mindset towards the victims of Muzaffarpur shelter home case by giving ticket to Verma.
Kumari Manju Verma will contest from the Cheria-Bariarpur Assembly constituency, which she represented from 2010 until 2018.
Read More: Bihar: Muzaffarpur shelter home accused Brajesh Thakur sentenced to life imprisonment
