Uttar Pradesh,03 Oct 2020-After meeting the family members of the Hathras gang-rape victim on Saturday evening, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the state government must protect the grieving family. “I stand with the family. It is the responsibility of the state government to ensure their safety,” the Congress leader said after the meeting that continued for over 30 minutes.
“The family needs protection,” said Priyanka Gandhi, who had a one-on-one chat with the victim’s mother. “The family couldn’t see their daughter for the one last time. UP CM Yogi Adityanath should understand his responsibility. Till the time justice is delivered, we’ll continue this fight,” Priyanka said.
Following a series of dramatic incidents, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra reached Hathras on Saturday evening at around 7pm. Security was beefed up around the residence of the gang-rape victim who died in Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital on September 29, after being alleged gang-raped by four upper caste men. This was their second attempt to meet the family members, the first one being thwarted by Uttar Pradesh Police on Thursday, on the pretext of Section 144.
On Saturday noon, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi started for Hathras by road. At least 35 other Congress leaders, including some MPs, were also on their way to Hathras. The Congress cavalcade met a heavy deployment of security personnel on Delhi-Noida border where it was decided that Rahul, Priyanka and a few Congress leaders will be allowed to enter Uttar Pradesh. Congress leaders KC Venugopal and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury accompanied the Gandhis.(Agencies)