On December 12, Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, left for a visit to Hathras, where he plans to meet the family of the rape victim. This visit has sparked a surge in political statements, with Uttar Pradesh’s Deputy Chief Minister, Brajesh Pathak, accusing Gandhi of attempting to stir unrest and incite violence in the state.
The rape victim’s family had earlier written a letter to Rahul Gandhi, seeking his support and intervention. According to sources, the family expressed dissatisfaction with the state government’s failure to fulfill its promises, including the provision of a job and housing, which were made to them after the tragic incident. The victim’s family also stated that while they have been provided with security, they feel confined and unable to live freely due to the constant surveillance.
The case dates back to September 14, 2020, when a young woman from Hathras was brutally raped by several men from her own village. The victim later succumbed to her injuries during treatment. The case attracted widespread national attention, not only due to the brutal nature of the crime but also because of the administration’s actions following the incident. The local authorities were accused of hastily cremating the victim’s body without the consent of her family, sparking a political and social uproar.
While one of the accused in the case has been sentenced to life imprisonment, the victim’s family continues to seek justice. Rahul Gandhi’s visit is seen as an attempt to highlight the government’s failures in handling the case and to express solidarity with the victim’s family. Gandhi has long been vocal about the need for justice and has criticized the state government’s handling of the case.
In response to Rahul Gandhi’s planned visit, Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak accused him of using the incident for political gains, suggesting that Gandhi’s visit would only escalate tensions and lead to further unrest in the state. Pathak claimed that Rahul Gandhi was attempting to inflame the situation in Uttar Pradesh, which has already seen significant political polarization.
As political tensions rise, the focus remains on the Hathras incident, which continues to haunt the victim’s family and remains a critical issue in the state’s ongoing political discourse.
