New Delhi: Congress party’s Uttar Pradesh (east) in-charge Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is likely to visit the Unnao rape survivor in a Lucknow hospital, where she is being treated after her accident on Sunday, in the next couple of days, ThePrint has learnt.
“We are finalising the date of her visit,” said a close aide of Priyanka who did not wish to be named.
The survivor, who had accused BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar of rape in April 2018, was critically injured in a car accident Sunday evening, which killed two of her aunts. Her lawyer is also reportedly critically injured. The car, police said, was hit head-on by a speeding truck coming from the wrong side. The mother of the survivor has termed the incident a conspiracy to wipe out her family.
Vocal about lawlessness in UP
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has been extremely vocal on social media about the deteriorating law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh where she says Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led government has failed to take corrective measures.
भाजपा-राज में अपराधियों के हौसले इतने बढ़ गए हैं कि दिन-दहाड़े हत्याओं का दौर जारी है।
सोनभद्र के उम्भा गाँव में भू माफियाओं द्वारा 3 महिलाओं सहित 9 गोंड आदिवासियों की सरेआम हत्या ने दिल दहला दिया।
प्रशासन-प्रदेश मुखिया-मंत्री सब सो रहे हैं। क्या ऐसे बनेगा अपराध मुक्त प्रदेश?
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) July 17, 2019
On Monday, she put out a series of posts on Twitter calling out the BJP government for failing to expel Sengar from the party despite an FIR being lodged against him.
What is the BJP waiting for? Why has this man not been expelled from their party even when his name is in the latest FIR in the Unnao Rape Case?#BJPSackSengar pic.twitter.com/cTpQ0HbFNT
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) July 29, 2019
“The accident happened in Rae Bareli, UP, where she has raised the issue of lawlessness on multiple occasions,” said the aide.
Earlier this month, Gandhi visited the families of 10 Gond tribals killed in Sonbhadra over a land dispute. She was detained by the UP police and created a stir with senior Congress leaders drawing parallels with former prime minister Indira Gandhi’s famous visit to Belchi in Bihar in 1977.
Gandhi’s perseverance in meeting the families prompted a host of leaders to flag her “natural charisma” and “political instinct”.
“It comes naturally to her,” the aide said. “She has been working on the ground for years now, and knows what situation requires what kind of a response.”
Also read: Kuldeep Sengar, the Unnao rape accused even BJP can’t act against
Priyanka for chief
Ever since party president Rahul Gandhi made public his resignation from the top post, many senior leaders have openly called for Priyanka to take over as chief.
But Priyanka has repeatedly asserted that she is happy in her current role and does not want the post.
“She heard Rahul when he said (in the Congress Working Committee meeting of 25 May) that the party should look beyond the family for a president,” the aide said.
“She is not likely to take up the mantle unless he signals the same,” the aide added.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor Monday said the leadership crisis was causing disarray in the party and called for fresh elections to the Congress Working Committee, the party’s top decision making body. He added that even if it is Priyanka, who is a “good choice” to take over as president, she should be elected and not selected.
Hours later, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh also backed Priyanka for chief, saying “Priyanka would be a perfect choice to take over the party reins but it would all depend on the Congress Working Committee, which alone is authorised to take a decision in the matter”.
“She has the intelligence and instinct to understand and relate to the needs of the nation, and also has the courage to take on any challenge and take the fight to victory,” he added.
Also read: Owner of truck that hit Unnao rape survivor’s car belongs to same district as Sengar’s
That is as it should be. Her visit cannot be discounted as politicking. When there are egregious failures of governance, the Opposition is bound to take mileage. However, what is disturbing is the silence of senior lady functionaries from the other side. They were equally reticent at the time of Kathua. Sympathy / solidarity for a girl / woman who has suffered grievously should not be contingent on whether one is in the opposition or in power.