Rahul Gandhi calls Uttar Pradesh govt 'goonda raj' for journo's death

Condemning the attack on journalist Vikram Joshi in Ghaziabad, several Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi, offered condolence to his grieving family. They also attacked the Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh, terming it as 'goonda raj' (rule by hooligans).

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi termed the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government as 'goonda raj' (rule by hooligans), hours after Ghaziabad-based journalist Vikram Joshi succumbed to bullet injury he received from a group of men, who had allegedly harassed the scribe's niece.

"Journalist Vikram Jashi was killed after he protested against the harassment against his niece. My condolence to the family. They promised Ram Raj, but gave Goondaraj," Gandhi tweeted.

"Is it the same Ram Rajya that BJP promised after it came to power? This is complete 'Goondaraj'. Neither journalist, nor those who protect the law are safe in UP, so how can the common man expect justice," tweeted his party colleague Randeep Surjewala.

While addressing a press conference at Jaipur's Fairmont Hotel, Surjewala also said that the incident indicates a lack of law and order in the state. "This incident has revealed that 'Goonda raj' is prevailing in Uttar Pradesh. It is clear there is no law and order in the state," he said.

READ:|Journalist shot in Ghaziabad passes away; Opposition slams Yogi government

Expressing his shock over the incident, party leader and lawyer Abhishek Singhvi said, "Shocking jungle raj in #Ghaziabad area with journalist #Joshi, already known as the complainant in #FIR, being shot on a scooter while with his daughters, struggling in a coma with a bullet in the skull! Thank God daughters not hit. Shocking, scary, disgusting lack of fear of law & order! #UP."

Ajay Kumar Lallu, state Congress president said, "The Ghaziabad incident has shocked the entire state. It's a tragic incident. Nobody is safe in Uttar Pradesh. If it is not jungle raj then what is. The government remains silent while criminals are becoming more active. While leaving home in the morning, people in the state worry whether they will be able to return in the evening or not."

Congress leader Ahmed Patel also condemned the 'assassination' of Vikram Joshi.

"The shocking assassination of a journalist in UP is another example of breakdown of law & order in the state It is also a grim reminder of how media is being systematically intimidated since last 6 yrs Our condolences to family of Mr Joshi. We stand behind fearless journalism," he wrote on Twitter.

READ:|Journalist shot at in Ghaziabad, Priyanka Gandhi slams UP

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had also attacked the Uttar Pradesh government over the law-and-order situation in the state after Joshi was shot at in Ghaziabad. The Congress general secretary has been attacking the Yogi Adityanath government over the law and order in UP.

"Ghaziabad falls in NCR. Going by the state of law and order here, one can get an idea of the situation in the entire state of UP. A journalist was shot at because he complained to the police against molestation of his niece. How will common man feel safe in such a jungle raj," she said in a tweet in Hindi.

In the meantime, the station-in-charge has been suspended and a departmental inquiry has been ordered after the journalist's family accused the police of inaction. A total of nine accused have been taken into the custody, while efforts are on to nab another accused.

Inputs from agencies