New Delhi: After the 19-year-old victim of Hathras gang rape was allegedly cremated over-night by Uttar Pradesh Police, Congress party's General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and party president Sonia Gandhi made a scathing attack on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, raising a series of questions on his responsibilities as a Chief Minister.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to CM Yogi Adityanath, after which UP Government had constituted a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe into the matter.
Sonia, in a three-minute video, said that the ruling BJP government has failed to ensure safety to a 19-year-old Dalit girl.
Raising some serious questions over the law and situation in the state, she said, "Why the UP police had not registered a case regarding the heinous crime, ignoring the matter for the 8-days? Is there any law left in the state or they have their own stylesheet to govern the state?"
She further asked the government to clarify the matter in which the victim's family members alleged that the body was not handed over to them and was cremated by UP police officials early in the morning.
While reacting over the matter, Priyanka Gandhi said, "This incident happened on 14th. Since then it is the first statement of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, after 15 days. Were you waiting for Prime Minister's call? Why did you not do anything before? You did not give her a good treatment, she was being brought to Delhi just a night before."
She further added, "How inhuman is your Government. Why was it not done earlier? Why was it not done on the 14th? Is there no concern for the safety of women in your state? You will not take any responsibility. I just want to ask you, what kind of Chief Minister are you?"
After the victim, who was gang-raped, tortured and succumbed to her injuries, on Tuesday the UP Police cremated her body in Hathras on the same day, late at night and reportedly did not even let her family take the body home to perform last rites.
Read: Hathras gang-rape: Congress demands immediate resignation of CM Adityanath
"What kind of treatment was being given to her family that they were not even being allowed to see their daughter's body for the last time? They were locked in a room. Such behaviour is the greatest example of inhumanity," Gandhi slammed the Yogi Adityanath-led government.
Earlier today, Mahila Congress and Indian Youth Congress members also protested outside UP Bhawan, here in Delhi, demanding the immediate resignation of UP CM Yogi Adityanath. Many of the protestors including All India Mahila Congress chief Sushmita Dev, Delhi Mahila Congress President Amrita Dhawan and IYC President Srinivas B V also got detained by Delhi Police.
While protesting against the Hathras Rape case, Srinivas B V said, "This is Yogi Raj where the system has changed into jungle Raj. Religious people neither care about humanity nor for Hindu customs. The manner in which her family was being locked and her body was cremated in dark, exposes the religious pretence of BJP and Yogi Adityanath."
Sushmita Dev said, "The way she was cremated is a gross violation of human rights. For eight days, there was no FIR being registered and when there was an FIR, look at the sections imposed by this ruthless Government. There should be an enquiry over the gross and criminal negligence of CM Yogi Adityanath. He has to resign."
On the other hand, local police officers have claimed that the cremation was carried out "as per the wishes of the family". The incident has triggered a national outrage as many have even hit the streets while demanding justice in the matter.
Also read: You are accountable for safety of women in UP: Priyanka to Adityanath
