NEW DELHI: BJP leader Chander Prakash Ganga , who courted controversy after he was seen at a rally organised in support of an accused in the rape-and-murder of an eight-year-old girl in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua, today said that he attended the rally on his state party chief's order.

"We were sent there (rally's venue) on the orders of the party. Our party president Sat Sharma had sent us there," the BJP leader said on Times Now.

On February 15, Chander Prakash along with another BJP leader Lal Singh had participated in a rally organised by right-wing Hindu Ekta Manch to demand the release of a special police officer, Deepak Khajuria, who is accused in the rape and murder case.

Prakash, while speaking to Times Now today, said that he was sent to the rally as the people were apprehensive of the ongoing investigations.

"There the people said that we do not trust the investigation as it has changed hands thrice," he added.

Yesterday, both the ministers had tendered their resignation to party state president Sat Sharma following widespread protest and outrage. While Singh was forest minister, Ganga held charge of industry and commerce departments in the Jammu and Kashmir cabinet.

"I have demanded a CBI enquiry in this matter ( Kathua rape and murder case). I have never done politics for power. There was no pressure on me to resign, I have done it by myself. If my resignation can save the image of my party, I will make this sacrifice," he said.

Although Sharma claimed that Lal Singh and Ganga quit on their own, sources said the two were recalled at the instance of PM Narendra Modi, who held that being ministers, they should not have joined the attack on J&K police for arresting those accused of raping and killing an eight-year-old. Sources also said the PM rejected the ministers’ defence that they had attended the protest organised by the Hindu Ekta Manch against the so-called frame-up in order to defuse tension as thousands had turned up for the protest at Hiranagar.

Yesterday, BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi had defended the two Jammu and Kashmir ministers of the party saying they were "misled and misguided".

The party did not share their views and they should have maintained that the law was taking its course, she told a press conference here.

To a question on whether the party would take action against the two Jammu and Kashmir ministers, the New Delhi MP said it was not a "crime" to be misled.

"The lesson for them is to allow the law to take its own course before opening your mouth," Lekhi said.

The minor girl from the Bakerwal community was kidnapped on January 10; taken to a temple in Rasana village in Kathua.

Her attackers, who included temple official and policemen, drugged and gang-raped her over days before finally killing her and dumping her body in nearby forest seven days later.

It is alleged that the girl was attacked to scare away the nomadic Muslim community out of the village.

(With inputs from agencies)



In Video: Attended rally in support of Kathua rape accused on state BJP chief's orders: Ex-J&K minister