Lucknow: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav sparked controversy on Saturday by calling for a DNA test of the accused in the Ayodhya gangrape case.

The Ayodhya Police arrested Moid Khan, who operates a bakery in Bhadarsa Nagar, and his employee Raju Khan on July 30 in connection with the gang rape of a 12-year-old girl.

The police said that the minor was raped for over two months by the accused, who also recorded the assault.

The case came to light when the girl became pregnant as a result of the sexual abuse.

Moid Khan, the primary accused, is allegedly a functionary of the Samajwadi Party. The Ayodhya district administration has demolished his bakery.

On Saturday, Akhilesh Yadav called for a DNA test of the rape accused to ensure justice for the victim.

“In the case of misdeeds, the way for justice should be found by getting DNA tests done on those who are accused, and not by merely making allegations and doing politics,” Yadav wrote on X.

"Whoever is guilty should be given full punishment according to the law, but if the allegations are proven false after the DNA test, then the government officials involved should also not be spared. This is the demand for justice," he added.

The Samajwadi Party chief also called for the government to immediately provide Rs 20 lakh in assistance to the victim's family.

However, Yadav's demand for a DNA test drew criticism from several political parties in Uttar Pradesh, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and the Nishad Party.

The BJP accused the Samajwadi Party of defending a "paedophile" and displaying a “boys will be boys” attitude. It also criticized the leaders of the INDIA bloc for remaining silent on the issue.

"What do they want to prove with the DNA test? Who all were involved in the gangrape, will this be decided on the basis of the DNA test? Is the rapist who made the girl pregnant the only one guilty of rape?" BJP's IT department head Amit Malviya wrote on X.

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla wrote that Yadav's demand is an insult to the minor victim.

"Akhilesh Yadav gives clean chit to rapist Moid Khan, SP Neta & demands DNA test! Is this not an insult to the 12-year-old Nishad girl?" Poonawalla asked.

“Moid Khan’s SP supporters threatened the family of minor to withdraw the case! On one hand, CM Yogi is taking bulldozer action- on the other hand, SP is showing a “boys will be boys” mindset & defending a paedophile…All INDI ALLIANCE netas are silent!...," Poonawalla said on X.

BSP chief Mayawati, too, questioned Yadav's remarks regarding the accused's DNA test.

“The strict action being taken by the UP government against the accused in the Ayodhya gangrape case is justified, but what should one understand from SP's statement that the DNA test of the accused should be done,” Mayawati said.

"The SP should also tell how many DNA tests have been done against such accused in their government," she added.

UP minister and Nishad Party president Sanjay Nishad called out the Samajwadi Party chief, accusing him of shielding the accused.