Chandigarh: BJP MP Kirron Kher today said Chandigarh police was not facing any political pressure in the woman stalking incident, in which the Haryana BJP chief's son and one more person have been booked, and assured the victim and her family that justice would be done. She lamented that certain "wild allegations" like the one on CCTV footage going missing were being made and stressed that the law would take its course.

Chandigarh: BJP MP Kirron Kher today said Chandigarh police was not facing any political pressure in the woman stalking incident, in which the Haryana BJP chief's son and one more person have been booked, and assured the victim and her family that justice would be done. She lamented that certain "wild allegations" like the one on CCTV footage going missing were being made and stressed that the law would take its course. 

The victim's father, a senior Haryana IAS officer who had taken to the social media to urge people to fight crime against women, told reporters that he had full faith in the system and was grateful to Chandigarh police for "saving" his daughter's life. He said he had requested the Home Department immediately after the FIR was lodged that care be taken to secure the CCTV footage. He also said that "unless somebody from the family (of the accused) is trying to sabotage the investigations and the prosecution, they are not involved in this, we are very clear. We do not hold the family responsible in any way."

His response came as the opposition stepped up demand for resignation of BJP state chief Subhash Barala and criticised the Chandigarh police for not charging his son with kidnapping in the incident. Kher, the MP from Chandigarh, today rubbished claims that the accused were booked under lenient provisions as one of them is related to the state BJP leader. "The police are under no political pressure, this is absolutely baseless. The Chandigarh police are doing their job as any professional force does," she said "During police investigation if something else comes up, I am sure police will follow through," Kher said.      

The MP said that security will be further strengthened in the city so that such incidents are not repeated. Asked about reported allegations that CCTV footage was missing, Kher said, "these people who are saying about footage going missing are making wild allegations. "The police have assured the victim and her family that wherever CCTV cameras are installed and any footage that the cameras would have captured is going to be kept secure."      

Assuring the victim and her family that justice would be done, Kher said, "As a mother, I can understand the sentiments of the victim's family at this time. Whatever is legal and correct in this case, will be done."   BJP leader Ramveer Bhatti stokes controversy. Meanwhile, Chandigarh BJP Vice President Ramveer Bhatti drew flak for his reported controversial remarks on the incident.      

Asked about a section of media quoting him as saying that girls and women should not go out alone at midnight, Bhatti said, "What I meant to convey is that it is the responsibility of parents to watch over their children and their activities." "It is a general statement and not directed at the victim. I am saying, be it a boy or a girl, parents should be watching what they are doing. I am not saying that girls should be confined to their homes," he said. He described the stalking incident as "unfortunate and shameful".      

"It is a shameful incident. Whatever happened is unfortunate," Bhatti said. Bhatti also attacked the Congress leaders, saying why did they remain "silent" in the rape and murder case involving a minor at Kotkhai in Himachal Pradesh. "See their insensitivity... I am saying that such incidents, wherever these may take place in the country, are highly condemnable," Bhatti said.      

However, Bhatti's reported statement that girls should not step out during the night alone did not go down well with his own party colleague Kher. "I think this is a very unfortunate statement, which reflects the mindset of many men in this country. I think that Bhatti should have exercised restraint and not made this comment," Kher said.     "There are many young girls and women who work late, they work in hospitals as nurses, at call centres, various other places or go out to watch a movie, go to friend's houses, we have to provide them security and safety. We can't put the blame on them why they were out at night, whether it's a boy or a girl, both have equal rights". PTI