Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday launched an attack on the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government over the brutal murder of a 22-year-old Dalit woman in Ayodhya.
“The inhumane and brutal murder of a Dalit daughter in Ayodhya is heartbreaking and deeply shameful,” Rahul Gandhi wrote on X (formerly Twitter). He alleged that had the administration responded to the family's pleas for help, which had been echoing for three days, the woman’s life might have been saved.
Rahul Gandhi further claimed that crimes and atrocities against Dalits in Uttar Pradesh have been escalating under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rule. "The Uttar Pradesh government must immediately investigate this crime, ensure the harshest punishment for the culprits, and take strict action against the responsible police officials," the Leader of the Opposition stated.
“And, please for once, do not harass the victim’s family as is often the case. The daughters of this country and the entire Dalit community are looking to you for justice,” he added.
‘UP Government Synonymous With Atrocities On Dalits’: Priyanka Gandhi On Ayodhya Murder Case
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi also criticised the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government, describing the state as a "Jungle Raj" where "no one listens to the cries of Dalits, tribals, backward and poor."
“The kind of barbarism that was meted out to a Dalit girl who had gone to listen to the Bhagwat Katha in Ayodhya would send shivers down the spine of any human being. Such cruel incidents shame the entire humanity," Priyanka Gandhi wrote on X.
She further alleged that despite the girl being missing for three days, the police failed to take action. "In the BJP's Jungle Raj, no one is there to listen to the cries of Dalits, tribals, backward and poor. The UP government has become synonymous with atrocities on Dalits. I demand that strict action be taken against those guilty of atrocities as well as the responsible policemen and officers," she added.
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Ayodhya Murder: Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad Breaks Down After Visit To Victim's Family
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Awadhesh Prasad broke down in tears at a press conference while addressing the issue. Terming the crime "extremely sad and inhuman," he vowed to resign from the Lok Sabha if justice was not served. Prasad was seen being consoled by fellow panellists as he wept during the event.
Providing details of the incident, Ayodhya Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Raj Karan Nayyar told news agency ANI that the girl had been asleep with her sister on the night of 30 January but was found missing the next morning. The family informed the police, following which a case was registered, and two teams were deployed to trace her.
“The body of the girl was found in a field this morning. Senior officials and the forensics team reached the spot and collected scientific evidence. Prima facie, it seems that the murder did not happen on the spot; the girl was murdered elsewhere, and her body was disposed of there,” Nayyar stated.
The SSP further informed that a suspect has been detained for questioning, and special teams have been formed to investigate the case. “Three teams have been formed as of now, one suspect has been taken into custody and is being questioned. The case will be cracked soon, and the guilty will be given the strictest punishment through a fast-track court. All teams are working towards it,” he added.