In a shocking incident, Former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi was caught defending rape convict RJD leader Rajballabh Yadav while campaigning for his wife, who is contesting from the Nawada Lok Sabha seat in the Lok Sabha elections, as per reports.
According to reports, Rabri Devi addressing a rally in Nawada said Rajballabh Yadav was wrongly convicted in the case and went on to ask people to vote for rape convict’s wife Vibha Devi. Rajballabh Yadav is convicted for raping a minor girl and was subsequently disqualified from contesting polls.
“The way Rajballabh ji has been convicted and he has been set up by those who wanted to spoil his name, thus Vibha Devi (Raj Ballabh’s wife) is the candidate and we have to help her win. We have to make her win,” said Rabri Devi told people in Nawada on Thursday.
Ironically, Rabri Devi defended the rape convict Rajballabh Yadav while speaking on the issue of lack of women safety in Bihar. “They talk about Beti Bachao Beti Padhao but, what is happening in Bihar? Girls have been kidnapped and raped. Nobody’s safe in Bihar. The state government in to blame,” said Rabri Devi.
She further went on to claim that her husband Lalu Prasad Yadav was also a victim of political vendetta while accusing Nitish Kumar government of failing to provide security for women in the state.
Raj Ballabh Yadav, who is Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLA from Nawada, was named in a case of rape of a minor girl at his residence in Bihar Sharif on February 6, 2016.
In December last year, a Patna court had convicted Rajballabh Yadav and four others in connection with the rape of a minor in 2016. He was convicted under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code and 4, 8, 17 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
A 15-year old girl, a resident of Bihar Sharif was reportedly abducted by a woman, Sulekha Devi to a location 15 KM from the district headquarters. According to reports, the woman and Yadav consumed alcohol and forced the minor girl to watch pornographic videos. Yadav then allegedly directed the girl to imitate the lewd acts. When the girl resisted, she was raped and confined the entire night.