Nagpur: The Amravati sex abuse scandal has kicked off a huge political storm with leaders from ruling and Opposition parties trading barbs over the narratives, though they remained united in their demand for the harshest punishment to the accused. Sparks began flying on Monday when BJP Rajya Sabha MP Anil Bonde reached the Amravati SP’s office and demanded the arrest of a person seen in multiple sexual abuse videos. Members of Hindu frontal organisations who accompanied Bonde said they would agitate if police did not act swiftly.Soon after Bonde’s statements, there were allegations of ‘love jihad’ and posts that painted a communal picture. Bonde earlier said he believed “around 180 women” were targeted and the case involved an organised racket rather than a lone offender.However, Maharashtra minorities commission chairman Pyare Khan said politicians must refrain from giving a communal angle to the scandal. “All survivors identified so far in those videos are Muslims, but some people are purposely pushing another narrative,” Khan said. Reacting to the bulldozing of a portion of accused Ayan Ahmed’s house in Paratwada, Khan referred to the Nashik astrologer sex scandal, saying, “Did anything happen to Ashok Kharat’s house?”Amravati’s guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule told TOI that CM Devendra Fadnavis has taken note of this. “I have spoken to all top officials, including the DGP and we are looking into it,” he said.Badnera MLA Ravi Rana said police must hand over the accused to the people. “Police must take strict action, or just let the public do the needful,” said Rana.However, former state cabinet minister and Congress leader Yashomati Thakur said the accused should get maximum punishment so that it serves as a deterrent. “But I don’t think it’s right to bring in the religion of victims here. From what I was told by cops, all survivors identified are Muslims. But it does not matter whether they were Hindu or Muslim, what matters is that we have to protect them. I feel there is no fear of law left in people, which is why such scandals are happening,” said Thakur.
