JOIN USHathras case: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal joins protest at Jantar Mantar
Hundreds of protesters hit the streets on Friday demanding justice for the Hathras gang rape victim with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal leading a candlelight vigil at Jantar Mantar and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra joining a prayer meeting at the Valmiki temple.
Waving placards and raising slogans, supporters of AAP, Left parties, Bhim Army and students unions gathered at the Jantar Mantar demanding resignation of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, accusing him of coercing the family of gang rape victim and stopping the media and political leaders from meeting them.
CPI(M) leaders Sitaram Yechury and Brinda Karat, CPI’s D Raja, Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad ‘Ravan’, Mahila Congress chief Sushmita Dev joined the protestors at Jantar Mantar, as parallels were drawn with the agitation against the Delhi gang rape case in 2012 that had put the then UPA-II government in the dock.
“This is a fight for justice for the family of the victim. There should be no politics over this issue,” Kejriwal told reporters here.
“The entire country wants that the culprits should be given stringent punishment. Some people feel that attempts are being made to save them. At this time, the victim’s family needs all the possible help,” the Delhi Chief Minister said.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra participated in a prayer meet for the Hathras gang rape victim at the Valmiki Temple at Panchkuia Road, where Mahatma Gandhi had stayed for 214 days during the freedom movement.
“We will ensure that justice for our sister. We will not sit quiet till justice is done,” Priyanka said at the prayer meeting organised by the Valmiki community to which the victim belonged.
“The family should never feel it is alone. We will put political pressure on the government. Each one of us should put moral pressure. The family was kept away from the last rites. It is not our tradition to perform last rites after sundown,” the AICC General Secretary said.
Bhim Army chief Azad demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi break his silence on the issue.
“The PM washes the feet of Dalits before elections but remains quiet when a Dalit daughter of Uttar Pradesh is brutally raped,” Azad said.
AAP, JNU Students Union, Youth Congress, Bhim Army and some other outfits had given a call for protests at India Gate, but the venue was shifted to Jantar Mantar after police imposed prohibitory orders at India Gate.
As crowds swelled at Jantar Mantar, Delhi Metro shut down the exit gates at Patel Chowk, Janpath and Rajiv Chowk metro stations.