Hathras gang rape case: Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi allowed to meet victim’s family
Lucknow, Oct 03: Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi have been allowed by the Uttar Pradesh government, along with three others, to proceed to Hathras to meet the bereaved family of the 19-year-old girl, who was brutally assaulted and murdered.
Gandhi reportedly led a delegation of 50 MPs to meet the family members to hear their grievances and demand justice for the victim and her family.
There is heavy police deployment on the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border in Noida ahead of a Rahul Gandhi-led Congress delegation.
Barricades have been installed at the Delhi-Noida Direct (DND) flyway even as CrPC section 144 remains imposed in UP's Gautam Buddh Nagar.
Notably, Priyanka Gandhi on Friday attended a prayer meet at the Maharishi Valmiki temple in Delhi in memory of the victim.
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"When I came to know that you all have kept a prayer meeting here, I came so that the family does not feel that they are alone. Every woman in the country should raise their voice, the people from the media are here, they should pressurize the government, we will create political pressure. Her family did not even get a chance to perform the final rites of the girl in dignity. This is inhumanity," said Priyanka.
Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi's attempt on Thursday to meet the victim's family was blocked by the Uttar Pradesh police who detained and escorted the Congress leaders back to Delhi.
Rahul Gandhi was pushed to the ground in the chaos, following which the party held protests in Delhi.
Meanwhile, UP CM Yogi Adityanath suspended the Superintendent of Police and four other policemen for alleged dereliction of duty in the events that led to the death of a 19-year-old woman.
Hathras SP, 4 other cops suspended; media barred from victim's village till SIT completes probe
The state police is accused by the family of forcing the cremation of the woman in the late night.
District officials contended that they had consent from the woman's family, but the manner in which the developments took place raised questions over the conduct of the administration and law enforcement.