Three young men arrested in connection with the rape of an IIT-BHU student have purportedly been revealed as members of the BJP’s IT cell, prompting the Congress to launch a social media campaign against the ruling party.

Photographs purportedly showing the three suspects — Kunal Pandey, Anand
aka Abhishek Chauhan, and Saksham Patel — with senior BJP leaders Narendra
Modi, J.P. Nadda, Yogi Adityanath, Smriti Irani and Amit Malviya have been widely circulated.

This has led large numbers of social media users to recall the multiple allegations of sex crimes against BJP leaders in the past and ridicule the party’s claim to practising politics in the name of Lord Ram.

All three accused were active on social media till Saturday, displaying photographs of their participation in BJP events and promoting “Modi Ki Guarantee”. They allegedly participated in the preparations for the Lok Sabha elections in the Varanasi constituency, represented by the Prime Minister. Saksham Patel’s Facebook profile
describes him as an RSS worker.

The incident happened two months ago. The woman student was walking on the Banaras Hindu University campus with a male friend around midnight. Three young men came on a motorcycle and allegedly separated her from her male friend, disrobed her and made videos. She also alleged sexual assault. An FIR was registered on charges of harassment, disrobing and rape.

The alleged political affiliations of those arrested caused social media to erupt in shock just when the BJP was posting messages on X about “Amrit Peedhi” and showcasing the achievements of the youth on Modi’s watch.

The party has been talking about skills training for lakhs of youths, a cultural resurgence, and the feats of javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra and the young chess sensation Praggnanandhaa who defeated the world number 1 at the age of 16.

The propaganda ran into a vortex of national outrage as the identities of the rape accused dominated public discourse.

“The accused in the gang rape of (the) IIT-BHU student was (sic) none else but (the) IT cell convener of Varanasi Kunal Pandey and Saksham Patel, PA of Kashi president Dilip Patel. This is the perverse face of the BJP. Shameful!” Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai said.

“The BJP workers raped a girl in the Prime Minister’s constituency and the police took 60 days to arrest the rapists. Whose pressure was working? Will the media debate this issue?” Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said.

In a series of posts on X, Youth Congress chief B.V. Srinivas said: “Recognise them by their clothes, Modi Ji. These monsters are BJP office-bearers. Who should India save their daughters from? Is Smriti Irani’s blood boiling?

“Why did these rapists not face police encounter for 60 days? Why have their houses not been demolished by bulldozers? Why is the Vice President not traumatised? Does the answer lie in these photographs?”

Srinivas posted purported photographs of the accused with Modi, Nadda, Adityanath, Irani and Malviya.

Referring to one of the accused posting a message about getting “guidance from Irani”, he asked: “What kind of guidance you gave Smriti Irani?”

The development comes as an embarrassment for the BJP in the New Year, with a general election looming. Particularly so because it comes against the backdrop of sexual harassment charges by international-level women wrestlers against BJP parliamentarian Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, and the government’s long inaction.

While Sakshi Malik, 31, announced her retirement from the sport last month in protest at the government inaction against Brij Bhushan, Vinesh Phogat left her Khel Ratna and Arjuna awards on a pavement near the Prime Minister’s residence. Male wrestler Bajrang Punia gave up his Padma Shri.

Rahul Gandhi said: “Self-esteem is more important for every daughter of the country than any medal or award. Has the political benefits given by a known muscleman become more precious than the tears of our brave daughters? The Prime Minister is the nation’s guardian, his cruelty is painful.”

While a former BJP leader has been convicted of rape and murder in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, committed when he was an MLA, a now-suspended BJP leader’s son in Uttarakhand is accused in the murder of a woman receptionist at a resort the family owns.