'UP govt shields criminals; justice being denied in Hathras horror'

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a video message on Monday attacked Uttar Pradesh government for its slow progress in delivering justice to the victim's family of Hathras horror.

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday lashed out at UP government over the Hathras murder; he alleged that the state government is busy protecting criminals, the justice therefore is being denied, he added.

Gandhi shared a video message on Twitter, as a part of Congress' social media campaign '#SpeakUpForWomenSafety', in which he criticised the government's move. He stated that the police forcefully stopped him from meeting the victim's family.

The Congress leader in his tweet said, "The Government's attitude towards Hathras incident is inhuman and immoral. They are busy protecting the criminals rather they should be helping the victim's family. Come, raise your voice against the injustice being meted out to women all across the country as this will be a step towards change."

In his video message, Gandhi said, "When I met the bereaved family, I understood that the government has started an attack on victims. The government shouldn't protect criminals."

He further added, "I would like to request the government to deliver justice to the victims as soon as possible."

He also urged people to bring about a change in society so as to make the nation a safer place for women.

Criticizing the govt for its slow progress he said, "We all need to pressurize the government and the society needs to change. Whatever is happening to our mothers and daughters is absolutely heart-wrenching."

Amid tight security, family members of the 19-year-old woman, who died after the alleged assault and gang-rape last month, reached Lucknow on Monday to appear before the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court, which has taken suo motu cognizance of the incident.

The 19-year-old had succumbed to her injuries at Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital on September 29 after being assaulted and allegedly gang-raped in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras on September 14.