Priyanka Gandhi prays at Valmiki temple for Hathras woman, Kejriwal joins Delhi protest

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra says every woman needs to question UP govt to seek justice for the Hathras victim. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal says there should be no politics over the incident.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and AAP leader Atishi at the protest in Jantar Mantar on 2 October 2020 | Manisha Mondal | ThePrint

New Delhi: Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Friday attended a prayer meeting at Delhi’s Valmiki Mandir in memory of the Hathras gang rape victim.

This comes a day after she was prevented by Uttar Pradesh police from meeting the 20-year-old woman’s family. The woman had been allegedly gang-raped and assaulted by four men, all belonging to upper castes, on 14 September. She died early Tuesday at Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi.

Addressing the prayer meeting, Priyanka said every woman in this country needs to raise her voice and question the government to seek justice for the daughter of Hathras.

The prayer meeting was organised by the Valmiki community at the Prachin Bhagwan Valmiki Mandir at Panchkuian road. The Hathras woman belonged to the Valmiki community.

Meanwhile, a protest was organised at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar against the incident in which Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Aam Aadmi Party leader Atishi, Bhim Army leader Chandrashekhar Azad, actor Swara Bhaskar, and Swaraj India head Yogendra Yadav took part.

The protest, which was called by various student political outfits, among others, was earlier meant to be held at India Gate, but was later shifted to Jantar Mantar.

No politics over Hathras, says Kejriwal 

Addressing the protesters, Kejriwal called for justice for the woman and her family.

He said: “Some people feel that attempts are being made to save the culprits of this crime.” 

The CM said that at this point all help should be given to the victim’s family, adding there should be no politics over the incident.

Chandrashekhar Azad, who was detained by the UP Police earlier this week on his way to Hathras, told ThePrint the Uttar Pradesh government should have handed over the case to the CBI. He alleged that state officials have removed evidence and were threatening the woman’s family.

“They burnt her body with petrol like it was garbage… Is she just a Dalit’s daughter and not India’s daughter?” he asked.

UP govt has something to hide, says Atishi

Despite the national capital reporting more than 3,000 Covid-19 cases per day, people reached Jantar Mantar in large numbers. 

AAP leader Atishi told ThePrint people are risking everything to come here when no one is stepping out. 

“Schools and colleges are shut and people are working from home but still thousands of people have gathered here because their blood is boiling. Their blood is boiling because of the cover-up by the UP government, from top to bottom,” she said.

“Clearly the UP Government has something to hide as they are not allowing anyone in Hathras,” she added.

Addressing the people at Jantar Mantar, Atishi said: “The woman was not raped just once by the culprits, but again and again by the administration.”

Many women’s groups were also present at the protest.

Priyamvada of the Shree Mukti League said that neither capital punishment nor encounters were a solution to stop rapes. 

Poonam Kaushik from Pragatisheel Mahila Sangathan said the Hathras incident showed that “Hindutva powers would not give justice to Dalit women”.

With inputs from PTI.