New Delhi: The Congress on Sunday slammed the Central government for the 'acquired silence' over the gang rape and murder of a 9-year-old Dalit girl in Delhi. The opposition party also alleged that Twitter acted in haste due to "pressure" from the Indian government and was "selective" in removing Rahul Gandhi's tweet and "suspending" his account for putting up pictures of the victim's family as no action was taken against some other handles which carried the same pictures.
Addressing a joint press conference, Congress leaders Supriya Shrinate and Ragini Nayak accused the government of not providing succor and support to the victim's family.
Delhi Congress leader Alka Lamba demanded that there should be a discussion on women's safety and security in Parliament during the Monsoon session and a day should be dedicated towards this cause.
Questioning the prime minister and home minister's "silence", Shrinate said such a major crime has taken place in the national capital but not a word has come from the government.
'Why is the prime minister silent, why is the home minister silent. It is our demand that Modi ji should break his silence on the Delhi incident,' she told reporters.
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"It is unfortunate that the one who extends support to the family of the victim is being attacked. The BJP is indulging in 'rape versus rape' politics. This is not an issue of Congress versus BJP, it concerns the safety and security of women in the country," she said, asking whether the issue does not bother the 11 women ministers in the Modi government.
Shrinate and Nayak alleged that the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) chairman Vijay Sampla and member Anju Bala visited the victim's family on August 2 and they shared the pictures of the family on August 2 and 3, but no action was taken against them.
Nayak alleged that the Modi government 'is using its force to suppress women' instead of providing them security.
"Why is it that when Rahul Gandhi raises the issue, the government uses its force to get his tweet deleted. Why do you fear Rahul Gandhi so much? If the Modi government feels we will be stopped from raising this issue by getting a tweet deleted, it is mistaken," Nayak said.
The Congress had on Saturday claimed that Twitter has "temporarily suspended" the account of its former chief Rahul Gandhi, but later said it has been "temporarily locked" after the microblogging platform denied having suspended the account and stated that it continues to be in service.
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