Maharashtra atrocity on Dalit and tribal boys: Rahul slams RSS, BJP

jalgaon (maharashtra) — Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday blamed the RSS and the Bharatiya Janata Party’ politics after two Dalits and a tribal boy were paraded nude and assaulted for swimming in a well in Wakadi village here.

“The sole crime of these Dalit children was they were taking a dip in a well. Humanity is struggling to save its dignity,” Rahul tweeted.

He said “if we don’t raise our voices against this politics of hate and poison” of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the BJP, “history would not forgive us”.

Around 3pm on June 10, the three boys were stripped, beaten and paraded nude in Wakadi village allegedly for swimming in a village well.

Rahul’s comments on the issue, which has snowballed into a major political controversy, came as a high-level team of the Maharashtra Congress led by MLA Abdul Sattar visited the village in the morning and expressed complete solidarity

The sole crime of these Dalit children was they were taking a dip in a well. Humanity is struggling to save its dignity Rahul Gandhi

with the victims and their families.

Strongly condemning the outrage on the boys — who police have identified as two Dalits and one tribal — Union Minister for Social Welfare Ramdas Athawale said he will visit the village today to meet the victims and their families.

The incident came as a major embarrassment for the ruling BJPShiv Sena combine when Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is on a tour of Dubai, Canada and the US to attract investment.

On June 10, a large number of locals, including many from the upper castes, gathered around the well when they learnt that the boys were swimming in it and pulled them out. They were shouted at and subjected to abuses before some persons forced the boys to strip and paraded them nude around the village.

On videos, the boys, two Dalits aged 15 and 16 and a tribal aged 11, can be seen wearing only sandals and some patvelia leaves around their waist. They were seen in the videos vehemently protesting when at least one person was assaulting them on the legs and back with sticks and a leather belt, and another shooting the entire act, as confirmed by the police.

Jalgaon Superintendent of Police Dattatreya Karale, who is personally heading the probe, said the Pahur police station has booked two accused — Ishwar Joshi, 30, and his helper Sonya alias Prahlad Lohar, 22 — under provisions of the Indian Penal Code, SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Information Technology Act and Protection of Children from Sexual Offence Act. —