Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Credit: PTI Photo
Mumbai: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi spoke to the Beed-based family of the 28-year-old lady doctor who died by suicide in Phaltan in Satara district after facing sexual assault and mental harassment.
"Do not be afraid; we stand with you. The Congress party will exert pressure on the government to ensure justice,” Gandhi told the victim’s mother and other family members over phone.
Gandhi also sought complete details of the case from the victim’s family and from State Congress President Harshvardhan Sapkal.
Sapkal demanded that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) be formed and a probe be conducted under the supervision of a High Court judge, and that former BJP MP Ranjitsinh Naik Nimbalkar be immediately arrested.
“The victim was subjected to immense pressure to do wrongful acts and was severely harassed. Several incidents exposing Naik Nimbalkar’s hooliganism have already come to light. What is infuriating is that even before any investigation began,” he said, pointing out that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis publicly gave a clean chit to Ranjitsinh Naik Nimbalkar.
“This is outrageous. The probe should be conducted outside Phaltan, under the supervision of a senior woman officer. The Congress party will not remain silent — we will take to the streets to ensure justice for her. Youth Congress has already staged a protest in Delhi, and the Mahila Congress will soon launch statewide protests,” Sapkal said.
“The role of the State Women’s Commission in this case is equally disappointing. Instead of meeting the victim’s family to gather facts, they first met the police and tried to cover up the matter. The Commission should focus on addressing injustices against women, but instead, it chose to defend the police,” he said.
“Not a single representative from Dr. Sampada Munde’s community has spoken up. During earlier incidents in Beed, a local MLA from the ruling party would speak to the media every day, but now he is silent. Satte Environment Minister Pankaja Munde too has remained silent — she must speak up, setting aside political pressure from the Chief Minister. Even a social activist from Mumbai, who is otherwise vocal on various issues, has maintained silence on this matter. I appeal to the spiritual leaders of Narayan Gad and Bhagwan Gad to come forward and help this bereaved family get justice,” the State Congress President concluded.