Rahul, Priyanka join flash protests near India Gate against Unnao, Kathua rapes

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday night led a flash protest at the India Gate to protest the rape of a minor girl in Kathua and that of a teen in Unnao, bringing back memories of a similar agitation in 2012 that brought down the UPA-II government.

Congress workers and leaders gathered outside the AICC headquarters at Akbar Road, and began walking towards India Gate, barely a kilometre away.

Rahul's sister Priyanka, her husband Robert Vadra and their kids also joined the crowd, demanding justice to the rape victims.

The leaders, including Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ahmed Patel, Ambika Soni, Ashok Gehlot, Ajay Maken, Randeep Singh Surjewala, Ramya, Sushmita Dev and Shobha Ojha marched towards the India Gate demanding stringent punishment for the rapists.

"We want to wake up the Modi government which is fast asleep. Hence this midnight march," Maken, the president of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee, told reporters here.

"Modi is maintaining silence, so are his ministers, the situation is really bad across the country," AICC General Secretary Ashok Gehlot said.

The Congress President had given the call for a silent protest at India Gate around 9 pm on Thursday.

"Like millions of Indians my heart hurts tonight. India simply cannot continue to treat its women the way it does. Join me in a silent, peaceful, candlelight vigil at India Gate at midnight tonight to protest this violence and demand justice," Rahul had said on Twitter.

The protests were reminiscent of a similar agitation that took place in the capital in December 2012 after the gang rape of a trainee physiotherapist on a moving bus.

The capital witnessed huge protests, demanding justice for the young girl, who subsequently came to be known as Nirbhaya.