A fresh controversy hit the BJP Government with the Congress demanding the resignation of the only Minister from Rajasthan in the Modi ministry, Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers, Nihalchand Meghwal, after a trial court summoned him in a rape case.

“After Narendra Modi's speech, today is testing time for him. It is a serious issue and the Prime Minister must immediately dismiss him. All the talks about austerity and transparency, they must think about it,” said former Minister and Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Sachin Pilot.

Supporting Pilot, senior leader Rashid Alvi and All India Mahila Congress president Shobha Oza on Friday issued similar demands.

“We demand the resignation of Nihalchand Meghwal as he might influence trial in the rape case he is involved in if allowed to continue as Union Minister,” Oza told media persons here.

She said Modi’s failure to take action against his Minister is shocking, given his repeated concern for matters relating to safety and dignity of women.

Tall promises “During the elections, the whole of India heard Modi making tall promises for women's safety. And now, he is silent on his Minister accused of rape. This is shameful, and once again his double speak has become evident to the people,” Oza said.

The summons were issued on Thursday to 17 people including Meghwal for appearance before a trial court in Jaipur on August 20.

The court order came on a woman’s review petition against closure of her complaint that her husband repeatedly drugged her and then allowed his friends, among them Meghwal, to rape her.

The Rajasthan police had closed the case in 2012 saying the charges were false and fabricated. The woman approached a district court which too dismissed the charges. She appealed, following which Additional District Judge Prem Prakash Gupta issued notices to Meghwal and the other accused.

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