Congress steers clear of demand for President rule in UP

NEW DELHI: Congress steered clear of demands for imposition of President's rule in Samajwadi Party-ruled Uttar Pradesh but said it was "very very concerned" over the incidents of rape there.

"We are very very concerned about the incidents of rape in UP ..... As far as Congress is concerned, we all know that the eyes of the nation have been on the law and order situation in UP ever since the tragic events of last year", party spokesman Shashi Tharoor told reporters.

He said the party has repeatedly urged the government of UP to take all extra steps necessary to ensure that people are safe as "we are reading day after day news reports of rapes or attempted rape which is very very dismaying".

Replying to questions, he said Congress has certainly not taken a view on President's rule in UP. "We have confined ourselves to demanding a CBI inquiry" in the wake of the Badaun incident.

"Women of India deserve to be respected, deserve to be protected, deserve to be safe and certainly the Congress party would stand behind every effort that could be made to ensure the women are safe", he added.