Updated: October 2, 2020 10:03:41 pm
Police accuse Samajwadi party workers protesting the Hathras and Balrampur cases in Lucknow (Express photo by Vishal Srivastav)
The center of the protests against death and suspected gangrape of a Dalit woman in Hathras district, especially his hasty cremation, moved from the Yamuna Highway to Jantar Mantar on Friday, even as a beleaguered Uttar Pradesh government suspended Hathras SP Vikrant Vir and four other officers.
Jantar Mantar was buzzing with activity as politicians such as Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Sitaram Yechury, Chandrashekhar Azad joined hundreds of civil society activists demanding the resignation of Yogi Adityanath.
Amid tight security in Jantar Mantar, Kejriwal said the strictest punishment should be given to the perpetrators and the family of the 19-year-old victim should be allowed to meet whoever they wanted. Follow updates
“The family must be saved, let them meet whoever they want. Politics shouldn’t happen. Rape in any city or state is wrong, be it UP, Rajasthan or Delhi. Some people have raised doubts and it seems that there is an attempt to protect the perpetrators, this should not happen, ”Kejriwal said.
Lead attorney Prashant Bhushan, actor Swara Bhasker, CPI (M) leader Brinda Karat, Kanhaiya Kumar, and AAP leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj and Atishi were among those who gathered at the Jantar Mantar to demand justice for the victim. of Hathras.
Jantar Mantar was buzzing with activity when politicians like Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Atishi joined the protesters (Express photo)
“These are not statistics. It’s about how we deal with crime against women. It’s not about my rape and your rape. Any violation is reprehensible. Very clear that the fault lies with the CM. UP CM must resign. When Nirbhaya happened, everyone demanded the resignation of Sheila ji, ”said Congress leader Susmita Dev.
Amid mounting political pressure over the Hathras and Balrampur rape cases, Adityanath finally broke his silence, saying that those who even think of damaging women’s self-respect would face total destruction.
१) आदरणीय @myogiadityanath जी आपको जानकारी होगी ही की मै कोरोना पॉज़िटिव पाने से AIIMS ऋषिकेश में कोरोना वार्ड में भरती हू।
– Uma Bharti (@umasribharti) October 2, 2020
“The total destruction of those who even think of damaging the self-respect of women in UP is inevitable. They will receive such punishment that it will set them an example. The UP government is committed to the safety and development of mothers and daughters, ”Adityanath said in a tweet.
In addition to Hathras SP, the government suspended Circle Officer Ram Shabd, Inspector Dinesh Kumar Verma, SI Jagveer Singh and Chief of Police Mahesh Pal, according to Awanish Kumar Awasthi, Additional Chief Home Secretary.
The MLA and MLC of the Samajwadi Party hold a silent protest against the state government (Express photo by Vishal Srivastav)
However, the unrest within the BJP was palpable, with the senior leader Uma Bharti saying “suspicious” action by UP police in the Hathras incident he had “dented the image of saffron, the state government and CM Adityanath.” He also asked the CM to allow the media and politicians to meet the victim’s family.
With her tongue severed by the attackers and her spinal cord and neck severely injured, leaving her paralyzed in all four limbs, the 19-year-old passed away on Tuesday, sparking widespread national outrage. Reports of her hasty cremation without involving the victim’s family allegedly under police pressure have also led the Opposition to question the situation of law and order in UP. However, the police claimed that they had the consent of the family for the cremation.
Congressional Leader Priyanka Gandhi attends a prayer meeting at Delhi’s Valmiki Mandir for the Dalit teenager who was killed in Hathras. (Source: INC)
Meanwhile, a day after being detained and sent back to Delhi while trying to reach Hathras to meet with the victim’s family, the Secretary General of Congress. Priyanka Gandhi attended a prayer meeting. in memory of the victim at a Valmiki Mandir in Delhi.
“Each and every woman in this country should speak out against what happened to the women in Hathras. We need to pressure the government to guarantee justice for the young Dalit. Our country does not have a tradition in which the father, brother and family of the victim cannot light the pyre, ”Gandhi told attendees.
Joint Magistrate Prem Prakash Meena pushes Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien. (Video capture)
Her brother Rahul Gandhi, who accompanied Priyanka on Thursday and was seen falling during a fight with police personnel, accused the UP government of taking brutality to hide the truth of the incident.
“The UP government has adopted the brutality of covering up the truth. Neither we nor the media will be allowed to meet the victim’s family. They are also not allowed to go out. In addition to this, the relatives of the victim are being beaten and mistreated. No one in India will support such behavior, ”he tweeted.
WATCH: ABOVE Joint Justice Prem Prakash Meena pushes Deputy from Trinamool Congress @derekobrienmp
https://t.co/BVIR5yqy9k pic.twitter.com/sQi440P8vp– The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) October 2, 2020
The war of words between the BJP and the Opposition occurred even as dramatic scenes unfolded on the heavily barricaded border of the Hathras district. A delegation of parliamentarians from the Trinamool Congress was detained by Uttar Pradesh police 1.5 kilometers from the victim’s village.
Candle light to pay tribute to the victim of Hathras in near Bharat Mata organized by the Mumbai Congress (Express Photo)
The delegation included Derek O’Brien, Dr. Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Pratima Mondal and Mamata Thakur (former MP). Footage from the incident shows police personnel pushing MPs who tried to continue their journey on foot.
The TMC shared a series of short video clips showing Derek O’Brien being pushed to the ground by police personnel and Mandal being abused by the administrative officer on the road. “We have filed a police complaint against Hathras Sadar’s SDM with a request for it to become an FIR. We will also write to the Lok Sabha spokesperson on the matter, ”O’Brien said.
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