New Delhi: Rage against the forced cremation of the Hathras gang rape victim by UP police builds up in every quarter, more so after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was arrested on the Yamuna Expressway for trying to visit the victim’s family.
Just before his arrest, Rahul Gandhi mocks Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
दुख की घड़ी में अपनों को अकेला नहीं छोड़ा जाता।
UP में जंगलराज का ये आलम है कि शोक में डूबे एक परिवार से मिलना भी सरकार को डरा देता है।
इतना मत डरो, मुख्यमंत्री महोदय!
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 1, 2020
Congress General Secretary in charge of eastern UP Priyanka Gandhi stands tall for her brother and shares photographs of Congress foot soldiers.
हाथरस जाने से हमें रोका। राहुल जी के साथ हम सब पैदल निकले तो बारबार हमें रोका गया, बर्बर ढंग से लाठियाँ चलाईं। कई कार्यकर्ता घायल हैं। मगर हमारा इरादा पक्का है। एक अहंकारी सरकार की लाठियाँ हमें रोक नहीं सकतीं। काश यही लाठियाँ, यही पुलिस हाथरस की दलित बेटी की रक्षा में खड़ी होती। pic.twitter.com/lRq9kLSHJz
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) October 1, 2020
Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi is shocked at UP government’s reaction to the Gandhi march.
Shocked to see the scenes of police high handedness in UP, with support of the government. Why can’t opposition leaders meet the family of the deceased? How does that disturb law&order?
Government’s insensitive& inhuman behaviour towards its people is the reason for this impasse
— Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) October 1, 2020
However, BJP General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya is all praise for UP CM Yogi Adityanath’s ‘swift’ action.
हाथरस की घटना बेहद दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण और निंदनीय है। योगी सरकार ने घटना की जांच और आरोपियों को त्वरित सजा दिलाने के लिए फ़ास्ट ट्रेक कोर्ट का गठन करके सही कदम उठाया है। इन दरिदों को दी जाने वाली सजा अन्य लोगों के लिए मिसाल बने ताकि भविष्य में कोई ऐसा अपराध करने का साहस न करे!
— Kailash Vijayvargiya (@KailashOnline) September 30, 2020
CPI M’s Kanhaiya Kumar delivers a stern warning on the government’s actions
सरकार सत्ता के अहंकार में यह भूल चुकी है कि लोगों के वोट और सपोर्ट से कुर्सी मिली है, मीडिया मैनेजमेंट से नहीं।
आज इन्होंने विपक्ष को गिराया है, कल जनता इन्हें घुटने टेकने पर मजबूर करेगी।
— Kanhaiya Kumar (@kanhaiyakumar) October 1, 2020
Meanwhile in a diversionary tactic, BJP’s Amit Malviya attacks Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot over the latter’s statements on the alleged Baran rape incident. Was he equally quick to comment on the UP government’s handling of the Hathras case
राजस्थान की रेप पीड़ित बच्चियों पर राजस्थान के मुख्यमंत्री अशोक गहलोत का बेहद आपत्तिजनक और असंवेदनशील बयान…
कहना क्या चाह रहे हैं की बच्चियां खुद से आरोपियों के साथ घूमने गई थीं? और अगर ऐसा हो तो क्या ज़्यादती जायज़ है? https://t.co/aZhgzvQGCM
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) October 1, 2020
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee also speaks up on Hathras case.
Have no words to condemn the barbaric & shameful incident at Hathras involving a young Dalit girl. My deepest condolences to the family.
More shameful is the forceful cremation without the family’s presence or consent, exposing those who use slogans & lofty promises for votes.
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) October 1, 2020
Congress spokesperson Dr Udit Raj on the difference in treatment of savarna and Dalit women in our country.
दलित & सवर्ण में फ़र्क़ साफ़ दिखता है कि नही । pic.twitter.com/o6RykADWfZ
— Dr. Udit Raj (@Dr_Uditraj) September 30, 2020
And another BJP leader speaks out on Hathras – in a roundabout way.
हाथरस की घटना पर जोर जोर से ‘ऊँची जाति के लोगों ने किया बलात्कार’ लिखने वाले बलरामपुर की घटना पर कह रहे हैं ‘ऐसे विषयों पर धार्मिक ऐंगल ढूँढना उचित नहीं’।
हर विषय पर ‘धर्म और जाति’ की राजनीति से लोगों को भड़काने वालों का तथाकथित सेकुलरवाद सदैव जीवित रहता है। इनकी पहचान जरूरी है।
— Apurva Singh (@iSinghApurva) October 1, 2020
Broadcaster Raunak Kapoor finds that nothing, not even his beloved cricket, can provide solace from the horrific crime.
I cover cricket. I love my job. I largely tweet on it. There are so many days when the sport is such a great escape. A welcome distraction at times. Today it isn’t. For no fault of its own. Today is just a sick feeling. #Hathras #BabriVerdict
— Raunak Kapoor (@RaunakRK) September 30, 2020
Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi is equally anguished.
I have no words left to express my feelings on what has happened in Hatharas. My daughters, I am sorry.
— Kailash Satyarthi (@k_satyarthi) September 30, 2020
Advocate Sanjoy Ghose draws a parallel between UP police’s haste in the cremation of the victim and British officers’ action in the case of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh.
The British Government had cremated the body of Bhagat Singh in the dark of the night bringing forward the time of execution and kept his relatives in the dark. It was a law and order issue. pic.twitter.com/ogre5wpbfo
— sanjoy ghose (@advsanjoy) September 30, 2020
IPS officer R.K. Vij asks the right question.
बड़ा प्रश्न यह है कि बलात्कार की घटनाएं रोके कैसे। #StopViolenceAgainstWomen
— RK Vij, IPS (@ipsvijrk) September 30, 2020
Lawyer Deepika Rajawat offers her services to the victim’s family—nice touch.
As a lawyer, I extend my services to the family members of Hathras rape victim.
— Deepika Singh Rajawat (Kashir Koor) (@DeepikaSRajawat) September 30, 2020
Away from the tragic rape, and onto the subject of farmers: Punjab’s Minister for Finance & Planning, Punjab Manpreet Singh Badal has something to say about them.
“The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways.” — John F. Kennedy
— Manpreet Singh Badal (@MSBADAL) September 30, 2020
And with this reply to a troll, who asked about his ability to land roles, actor Abhishek Bachchan has won many hearts!
I didn’t. Was dropped from a few films and it was very difficult to get cast. But we live in hope and keep trying, hoping and working towards our goals. You have to get up everyday and fight for your place under the sun. Nothing in life comes easy. जब तक जीवन है , संघर्ष है।
— Abhishek Bachchan (@juniorbachchan) September 30, 2020