The BJP women supporters were marching towards UP CM’s office

Police on Monday used water cannons to disperse hundreds of BJP women supporters who wanted to march to the chief minister’s office in Lucknow to protest the >rape and murder of two sisters in Uttar Pradesh’s Budaun last week.

Women constables of Uttar Pradesh Police were assisted by their male counterparts in thwarting the Bhartiya Janata Party protesters’ march towards Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav’s office.

Some women workers and BJP leaders were injured in the melee.

Kusum Rai, senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha member, said the police were working on the chief minister’s orders and were behaving like “goons”.

She said the women’s wing of the BJP will not rest until women in the state are given adequate security.

BJP state unit president Laxmikant Bajpayi also slammed the Samajwadi Party government for using force against women.

Asserting that the BJP was committed to ensuring proper law and order, he said criminals were being patronized and protected by the Samajwadi Party government in the state.

“We, along with our alliance partner, have won 73 of the 80 seats in the Lok Sabha polls and we cannot be mute spectators while criminals rape and murder women. This government will have to ensure the safety of women and every citizen in the state,” he said.