Rahul Gandhi meets Hathras victim’s family; ‘mere gimmick’ says BJP

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday met with the family of the dalit woman who was allegedly gangraped in Hathras in 2020. The opposition leader reached Hathras in the morning and extended support to the victim’s family.

The Congress leader reached Bool Garhi, the native village of the victim at 11.15am. Uttar Pradesh police heightened security in the region in view of Gandhi’s visit. Congress leaders said the Gandhi family has been in touch with the victim’s family and have extended all support to them. Rahul had met the family with his sister and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi in 2020 and declared that they would fight to ensure justice to the deceased.

Chandragupt Vikramaditya, Congress leader in Hathras told PTI, "Rahul ji and Priyanka ji are the leaders who are in touch with aggrieved people across the country. Rahul ji has been in touch with this family also."

The 19-year-old victim was allegedly gangraped in September 2020. She was moved to Aligarh for treatment and later to Delhi, where she breathed her last on September 29, 2020. Her body was cremated on October 30 and the victim’s family alleged police forced them to conduct the last rites in a hurry, in the dead of the night. The Central Bureau of Investigation is probing the case and has submitted a charge-sheet against four accused.

However, the Bharatiya Janata Party slammed the visit. Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said Rahul Gandhi "is confused" and "not aware of the status of the case". “The CBI has already conducted an inquiry into this case and in the BJP rule no culprit is allowed to get away scot-free,” he said. Pathak accused Rahul Gandhi is conducting these visits “to be in limelight”.

Om Prakash Rajbhar, Uttar Pradesh Minister for Minorities Welfare charged, "If Rahul Gandhi was not aware of the facts of the case, he should know that a CBI probe had long been done. If he knows of any higher investigating authority, he should let us know. Such visits are mere gimmicks showing the Congress desperation,” PTI reported.