Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi set out on foot to meet the gang-victimized Hathras family after Uttar Pradesh police stopped them on the Yamuna Highway, citing the imposition of Section 144, which prohibits the gathering of four or more people.
Congressional workers milled around the two leaders as Rahul Gandhi, wearing his mask, led the march, with Priyanka, who was recently hired as general secretary in charge of Uttar Pradesh, right behind him. Dozens of journalists and people were seen clicking on images of the two leaders as they walked through their padyatra in the October sun.
The 19-year-old Dalit woman, who died in a Delhi hospital on Tuesday 15 days after being gang-raped in Hathras while out foraging with her mother, was cremated early Wednesday morning with her family. claiming that the local police forced them to perform the last rites in the dead of night.
Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi urged the opposition not to increase tension through “political tourism” and said the state government is working to punish criminals for their “barbarism.” The minister, however, did not name any party.
“Those who are trying to increase tension through political tourism should not. Everyone is sad and wants punishment for the guilty, the government of Uttar Pradesh is working to achieve it. They will see the results soon, ”Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, minister for minority affairs, was quoted as saying by the ANI news agency.
Congressional workers have blocked five lanes on the Delhi-Noida side of the migration route by ducking on the road.
Manoj Chaudhry, Speaker of the Gautam Budh Nagar Congress, said party workers have come together to demand justice for the rape and murder victim.
Members of Dalit groups and activists claimed that the early morning cremation was carried out to prevent any mobilization or protest in the village. “The whole world is watching how the government and the police together cremated our sister in the absence of her family. I have been arrested and placed under house arrest in Saharanpur; but we will keep fighting, ”said Chandrasekhar Azad, head of the Bhim Army, which had led the protests in front of the Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi on Tuesday.
Amid national outrage and calls for his resignation, the state’s chief minister, Yogi Adityanath, spoke to the family on Wednesday via video link. The prime minister has said that a fast track court will handle the speedy justice case. The special investigation team has been set up to investigate the matter and is requested to submit its report within seven days.
“The CM has spoken with the father of the deceased Hathras woman. His father asked for the harshest penalty against the accused. The CM assured him that the strictest measures will be taken against the accused and that all possible help will be provided to the family of the deceased, ”said the additional chief secretary (Interior), Awanish Kumar Awasthi yesterday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke to the CM and asked it to ensure strict action against the accused.
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