Rahul, Priyanka finally meet teenager’s family
LUCKNOW/HATHRAS: Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday evening met the family of the Hathras victim, declaring they will fight for justice to the Dalit woman who died after being allegedly gang-raped.
“We will fight against injustice, and fight till justice is done,” Priyanka Gandhi told reporters after the meeting that lasted about 45 minutes. Rahul Gandhi said no power can stifle the voice of the family. Uttar Pradesh authorities had scuttled an earlier attempt by the two leaders to travel to Hathras, detaining them and several party workers in Greater Noida outside Delhi on Thursday.
On Saturday, the Congress staged another demonstration at the Delhi-Noida border, where Congress workers scuffled with police and were allegedly lathi-charged. When a delegation of Congress MPs and other leaders reached the barricades, the Noida police said they will allow only five party representatives to meet the family at their village in Hathras, about 150 km away. The 19-year-old woman was allegedly gang-raped on September 14 in an assault by four men that left her critically injured. She died at a Delhi hospital last Tuesday. Villagers gathered outside as the Congress leaders entered the family’s home. Some were seen on the rooftops nearby, waiting to catch a glimpse of the Congress leaders. UP Congress leaders Pradeep Mathur said that K C Venugopal, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and Mukul Wasnik accompanied the Gandhis on the visit. There was heavy security presence outside the family home. The Uttar Pradesh government had previously insisted that large gatherings - such as those of the Congress delegation - were not allowed in line with COVID management guidelines. These orders prohibit people from travelling in groups of more than five.
Meanwhile, the SIT set up by the Uttar Pradesh government has completed its probe into the death of the teenager and earlier in the day barricades
The Uttar Pradesh government had previously insisted that large gatherings - such as those of the Congress delegation were not allowed in line with COVID management guidelines
outside her village in Hathras were lifted and the media was allowed in. On Thursday, the Hathras administration clamped prohibitory orders barring the assembly of more than four people in the district, where scuffles broke out as politicians, including from the Congress and the TMC, as well as the media tried to access the village. About 300 police personnel stood on guard to prevent anybody from entering.
The State’s government’s top officials, Awanish Awasthi and police chief HC Awasthy, will meet the woman’s family members and submit their report to the Chief Minister on their return.