In a disgraceful move, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Kathua Rajeev Jasrotia has been given a ministerial berth in today's cabinet reshuffle in the Jammu & Kashmir Government. This move from BJP is facing severe backlash on social media already. It was in Rajiv Jasrotia's constituency that the horrific rape and murder of an 8-year-old girl took place, sending shockwaves across the nation. The BJP MLA had disappeared for two days at the time after he was questioned about the incident.

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Asifa was brutally raped and murdered by five men inside a temple premises in January, who are now under arrest. The BJP MLA was seen and photographed in the pro-rapist rally that stirred the entire country into action. The fact that he has been made a Minister in the State Government reflects an appalling state of affairs in the Jammu and Kashmir government.

While the government had passed an ordinance to give death penalty for child rapists, this indifference in the treatment of their own party members and leaders shows how the party enables rogue behavior and rewards them.

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Senior journalist Barkha Dutt tweeted about the disturbing development with a clip from an interview that shows the role of the MLA in the protest:

Rajiv Jasrotia #Kathua MLA who also attended the  rally to back men charged with rape& murder of an 8 year old girl has today been made minister in #JammuAndKashmir. So why drop the two state ministers at all? Here's what the child's lawyer #TalibHussain told me about MLA's role pic.twitter.com/K7Zg2m2jwF

While the BJP is definitely appealing to its larger vote bank in the country through this move, it is sure to backfire in the days to come because it's nothing short of disgraceful even for a right-wing party.