Uttar Pradesh: Amid all the chaos over the gang-rape and murder of a young Dalit woman by upper-caste Hindu men in Hathras area of Uttar Pradesh state in India, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi met the victim’s family on Saturday evening and said that their party stands with the aggrieved family.
Consoling the victim’s mother, Priyanka Gandhi, who serves the party as General Secretary for Eastern UP, said that she and her party (Congress) will together stand strong in the face of injustice against the family.
“The family couldn’t see their daughter for the one last time. UP CM Yogi Adityanath should understand his responsibility. Till the time justice is delivered, we’ll continue this fight,” a report by Hindustan Times quoted her as saying after meeting the family.
Rahul Gandhi said that the government of UP must protect the grieving family. “I stand with the family. It is the responsibility of the state government to ensure their safety,” he said.
The leaders stayed with the family for over an hour after they reached Hathras around 6: 45pm following a series of dramatic events, including their detainment by the UP Police on Thursday on grounds of violating Section 144 and the pandemic law.
On this afternoon, amid the restrictions, both the Congress leaders were stopped while on their way to Hathras.
Reports said that Vadra played the role of protector during a brief clash between Congress workers and Uttar Pradesh cops at the toll plaza on the Delhi-Noida Direct (DND) Flyover, as the workers were not being allowed to move ahead.
In a video story published by NDTV, Vadra can be seen hopping a small yellow barricade and rushing to shield a man in a white kurta as cops with raised lathis surround her and a horde of reporters cover the ruckus.
Despite the huge chaos Vadra can be seen standing resolutely between the man, who appeared to be injured, and the police, despite considerable pushing and shoving, helping him to sit down by the side of the road and standing by his side.
Vadra and her brother, Rahul Gandhi, were at the toll plaza on the DND to make a second attempt to travel to Hathras and meet the family of the victim. The Congress leaders’ first attempt, on Thursday, ended in a tussle with cops who refused to let them pass, citing orders banning large gatherings amid coronavirus concerns, and shoving him to the ground in the chaos that followed.
This time, though, facing severe criticism over its handling of the tragedy and the physical confrontation with Gandhi, the Yogi Adityanath led UP government backed down, allowing the Gandhis and two senior Congress leaders to proceed, the report said.
This was hours after two top UP officials first met the family – the first visit by high-ranking officials since the assault on September 14.
The UP government had previously insisted that large gatherings – such as those of the Congress delegation – were not allowed in line with COVID management guidelines. These orders prohibit people from travelling in groups of more than five.
The ruling BJP, is under pressure over its apparent inability to prevent horrific crimes against women and at least two more assaults and rapes have been reported from the state since then.
Amid the curbs and demand by the opposition parties and social activists that UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath must resign for not being able to manage the crisis, the CM made a declaration of his government’s commitment on Friday. “Those who even think of harming mothers and daughters in UP, their destruction is assured,” he tweeted in Hindi.
In the meantime, the Chief Minister of UP Yogi Adityanath recommended Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the case. On Friday, the CM had suspended Hathras superintendent of police Vikrant Vir and three other police officers for their handling of the case.
Furious protests against the police and the government have been staged across the country, including one in Delhi on Friday, where Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal made an appearance and demanded that the four accused, who are all from the so-called “upper caste”, be executed.
Meanwhile, the Allahabad High Court has taken notice of the case and has summoned top officials of the government and police to appear before it on October 12.
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