December 12th 2024.
On a somber morning in Hathras, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, visited the family of a Dalit woman who tragically passed away in September 2020 after being allegedly gang-raped. He expressed his deep concern and outrage at the family being treated like criminals, despite seeking justice for their daughter's untimely death.
Amid heightened security and police presence, the Congress MP arrived at Bool Garhi village around 11:15am. The family had reached out to Gandhi earlier this year, seeking his support in their pursuit of justice. A letter addressed to the LoP by the woman's father was shared by the Congress, detailing their plea for help.
During his 35-minute visit, Gandhi spent time with the family at their home and listened to their harrowing experiences. Despite the gathering of reporters eagerly waiting for a statement from him, Gandhi left without speaking to them.
Later, on social media, Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the BJP government for failing to fulfill their promises to the family. He highlighted the family's constant state of fear and being treated as criminals, with surveillance cameras and guns monitoring their every move.
Gandhi also lamented that the government had not provided the family with a promised job or a new residence. Instead, the family continues to live in fear while the accused roam free. He expressed his determination to fight for justice and ensure that the family is not forced to live in such dire circumstances.
After Gandhi's visit, former Hathras unit chief of the Congress, Chandragupta Vikramaditya, spoke to reporters and emphasized Gandhi's longstanding relationship with the family. He assured that the Congress leader will continue to support them in their quest for justice.
The Congress also shared a letter written by the victim's family to Gandhi earlier this year, seeking his help in their fight for justice. In the letter, the victim's father expressed disappointment at the government's failure to provide a job for a family member and a new residence, as promised.
He also revealed that three of the accused have been released, and only one remains on trial. The family, who has been provided with CRPF security, feels like they are living in a prison, according to the letter.
Last month, Gandhi attempted to visit the violence-hit Sambhal district to meet the victim's families but was stopped by the state government. They cited a prohibition on the entry of outsiders, including public representatives, until December 10 due to the law and order situation in the area.
Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Brajesh Pathak, criticized Gandhi for his visit to Hathras, stating that he is "confused" and "not aware of the status of the case." He reassured that under the BJP rule, no culprit will escape punishment.
Meanwhile, the state's Minister for Minorities Welfare, Om Prakash Rajbhar, also slammed Gandhi for his visit. He stated that the CBI had already conducted an inquiry into the case and accused Gandhi of using such visits for publicity.
When asked about Gandhi meeting the Hathras family, Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav accused the state government and administration of destroying the sense of brotherhood in Uttar Pradesh. She further added that they would raise these issues in Parliament.
It is worth mentioning that in October 2020, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had met the Hathras family and promised to fight for justice for the deceased woman. The 19-year-old was allegedly gang-raped on September 14 and passed away on September 29 after being moved to Aligarh and then Delhi for treatment.
Her cremation in the early hours of October 30 sparked controversy, with the family alleging that the local police had forced them to conduct the last rites in the middle of the night. However, the police refuted these claims and stated that the cremation was carried out according to the family's wishes.
After an initial police investigation, the CBI took over the case and filed a charge sheet against all four accused.
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