The recent incident of rape and murder of 19-uearold Dalit woman in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras has created nation-wide outrage and anger. The same was reflected in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh where the state’s division of the Congress party protested against the rape case, police inaction and the alleged attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The later was stopped and heckled on his way to the victim’s native place- Hathras. Similar outrage by the Congress was witnessed in the brutal rape and murder of a young veterinary doctor in Hyderabad.
Congress leaders and party workers staged a flash protest against reigning BJP government in Uttar Pradesh. Telangana CLP leader Batti Vikramarka said “Its a heinous crime against a Dalit woman. Instead of punishing the culprits , They stopped Rahul Gandhi. What are the police of Uttar Pradesh doing? Is there any democracy in this country?” Congress senior leader V. Hanumantha Rao demanded the Government of Uttar Pradesh should help the family of victim. The congress leaders tried to seize BJP office in Hyderabad over this incident.
Andhra Congress leader and AICC secretary Gidugu Rudra Raju told The Daily Guardian, “Hathras rape is horrendous and horrific and victim was subjected to unthinkable and unimaginable torture. Her tongue was slashed, bones were smashed and her spinal cord was seriously damaged. This is barbarity at its worst. When the incident took place more than a fortnight back, why was no action taken? Why was not SIT set up earlier? Was UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath waiting for a phone call from Prime Minister Modi? It was on Prime Minister Modi phone call that SIT was set up. Her family was deprived of the privilege of bringing home the body and performing her last rites”. He further added that Hathras rape victim is a Dalit. Of late, Dalits are being subjected to untold suffering and hardship under the Modi dispensation. This is an anti-Dalit government.
