Watch: 'Kathua rape is a small issue', says newly sworn-in J&K Deputy CM Kavinder Gupta
After being sworn in as Jammu and Kashmir's Deputy Chief Minister, Kavinder Gupta said on Monday that the Kathua gang rape and murder was a “small issue”.
The Kathua gang rape and murder had sent shockwaves through the nation.
An eight-year-old girl, belonging to a minority community, was allegedly abducted, gang-raped, and murdered in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district in January.
A video of Gupta's comment was posted by Congress leader Salman Nizami. In it, Gupta can be heard saying, “The Kathua incident is a minor one and shouldn’t be given much importance.”
After pro-rapist MLA was inducted in Ministry, this shameless/heartless BJP neta- Dy CM J&K Kavinder Gupta says Rape & murder of 8 year old girl in Kathua is a SMALL issue, shd not be given much hype. And his supporters Laugh.....! Shame BJP Shame. pic.twitter.com/6rkxSiBhhv
— Salman Nizami (@SalmanNizami_) April 30, 2018
Gupta, along with seven others, took oath as ministers in the Mehbooba Mufti-led cabinet in Jammu and Kashmir, in the presence of the governor on Monday.
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Gupta, described as an old RSS hand, will be the new deputy chief minister in place of Nirmal Singh, who submitted his resignation last night, officials said.
The cabinet reshuffle was necessitated after two BJP ministers were forced to resign for attending a rally taken out in Kathua in support of the suspected rapists.
BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav, who attended the swearing-in ceremony, however said today's changes had no connection with the Kathua case.
Besides Gupta and Sharma, the new BJP faces sworn in as ministers were the MLAs from Kathua and adjoining Sambha, Rajiv Jasrotia and Devinder Kumar Manyal, respectively.
The BJP also upgraded Sunil Sharma, at present minister of state for transport, to the rank of cabinet minister. BJP legislator Shakti Raj took oath as a minister of state.
From the PDP, Pulwama MLA Mohammed Khalil Band and Sonawar MLA Mohammed Ashraf Mir took oath as ministers.
Of the eight, seven are first-time ministers. Seven of the eight are cabinet ministers.
(With inputs from Agencies)