Mulayam Singh promises government jobs to rape victims

While flaying the Mayawati government for rising incidence of rape and murder in Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav declared in Siddharth Nagar on Sunday that if his party were to be voted to power, he would ensure government jobs to every rape victim.

Addressing an election rally, Mulayam said, "I would like to make it loud and clear that once the Samajwadi Party government is in place in Uttar Pradesh, not only will we ensure that rapists and murderers don't go scot free, but we will also ensure due respect to rape victims."

He said, "While the government will give some monetary assistance to all such victims, the educated ones would be also offered jobs in the government."

Among other promises made for women in the SP manifesto, Mulayam has also assured two sarees and a blanket to all poor women.

Mulayam's declaration, however, witnessed sharp reaction from the Congress, whose spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi told mediapersons in Lucknow, "It appears that Mulayam Singh Yadav wants to admit that come what may rapes will continue under his regime too in UP,". Singhvi termed the statement as lamentable.

Flaying Mulayam on the statement, Bharatiya Janata Party spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "Mulayam Singh Yadav's remark speaks volumes of his insensitive attitude." He went on to ask, "Is monetary compensation any answer to rape?"