Alwar Gangrape Case: Rahul Gandhi to Meet Survivor Today Amid Simmering Dalit Anger in Rajasthan
The meeting comes amid flak received by the Congress-led government in Rajasthan for allegedly attempting to cover-up the case till parliamentary polls concluded in the state.
Jaipur, May 15: Congress president Rahul Gandhi would be visiting Alwar today to meet a Dalit woman who was gangraped two weeks ago. The Gandhi scion would be visiting the survivor's home and assure her family members of swift and immediate justice, said party officials privy to the matter. Mayawati, PM Modi Continue to Spar Over Alwar Gangrape Case.
The meeting comes amid flak received by the Congress-led government in Rajasthan for allegedly adopting a lax approach towards the case. The complaint was filed on April 30, but the FIR was not registered before May 2. The first arrest was made on May 7, a day after the Lok Sabha polls concluded in the state.
The gangrape was reported on April 26, when the couple was stopped by the accused on Thanagazi-Alwar bypass. The men took them to an isolated area, where the woman was raped in turns while her husband was thrashed and tied up.
A total of six accused were arrested on May 7. The government also suspended police officer Sardar Singh, who was in charge of the police station where the survivor had first approached. Alwar police chief Rajiv Prachar was also transferred on Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's orders.
The gangrape case has stoked a political row, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing the Opposition of adopting a tacit silence on the sexual assault against a Dalit woman as it would hurt their poll prospects.
Modi's target was BSP chief Mayawati, whom he accused of shedding "crocodile tears" despite a government supported by her party legislators had allegedly acted inadequately against perpetrators of heinous crime.
The Prime Minister's tirade has gained traction among members of the scheduled caste community in Rajasthan, who have marked dissent across the state against the government for "awaiting the end of elections" to crackdown on the accused.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 15, 2019 10:49 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).