Opposition leaders including Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav jointly took part in protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. However, Kejriwal and Rahul were not seen sharing the dais during the event. Kejriwal left before Rahul ascended the stage to speak.
Kejriwal went on the dais at around 6 PM while Rahul Gandhi came to speak at 7:15. Both were not seen on the stage together, but after Kejriwal left, his party members remained on the stage.
Among other prominent leaders who joined the protest included CPI-M's Sitaram Yechury, CPI's D Raja and Atul Kumar Anjan, RJD's Manoj Jha and Misa Bharti, TMC's Dinesh Trivedi and DMK's T K S Elangovan.
The alleged rape of young girls in a shelter home of Bihar’s Muzaffarpur has drawn countrywide criticism.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in his address, sought quick justice and "hanging" of the guilty within three months while RJD's Tejashwi Yadav and Loktantrik Janata Dal leader Sharad Yadav demanded that the probe be monitored by the Supreme Court.
The Bihar government has handed over the case to the CBI.
Addressing the protesters, the leaders attacked the BJP and the JD(U) and demanded stringent punishment against those involved in such heinous crimes.
Gandhi said if Kumar is ashamed of the rape incident, he should immediately act against the culprits.
"If he is really feeling ashamed then take action, put the guilty in jail, punish them," he said.
The Congress chief, training his guns at the BJP, also said that there is an "unusual atmosphere" in the country.
"Rape, assault cases... And, whoever is weak in the country today, they are being openly attacked, whether they are women, labourers, small traders, Dalits, adivasis, minorities, whoever is weak, is being
Gandhi, in his brief address, also asked the media to "not be afraid" of anyone while discharging their duties and tell the truth openly, saying, "don't be afraid, we stand with you".
He alleged that majority journalists were "not BJP-minded", but were "worried as they are being suppressed, threatened. And, when they try to do their job they were kicked out of their jobs".
Tejashwi Yadav, who targeted Kumar, demanded a probe monitored by the Supreme Court.
"Nitishji talks about girls education and protection but such heinous crimes happen right under the nose of the government. One can see difference in words and deeds. Also, the one of the girls, who had maximum information on this crime, was shifted to another shelter-home in Madhubani. And, reportedly, she has also gone missing," he alleged.
(With inputs from PTI)