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Amid massive security, Indian National Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, along with three other Congress leaders, on Saturday, 3 October, reached the residence of the kin of the Dalit woman who was allegedly gang-raped and murdered.
After speaking with the victim’s family members, Rahul Gandhi said that “no power can suppress the voice of the family”. Adding to this Priyanka Gandhi assured that the Congress party will fight till justice is delivered. “The family couldn't see their daughter for the one last time. UP CM Yogi Adityanath should understand his responsibility. Till the time justice is delivered, we'll continue this fight,” she said.
Later, Priyanka Gandhi took to Twitter and listed five things which she said were questions from the victim’s family. She wrote in Hindi:
Gandhis’ visit happened after Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Avnish Awasthi told ANI that a group of five persons can meet the victim’s family.
Earlier, they were allowed to enter UP via Noida, although the Congress delegation was halted briefly at the DND Flyway as the border has been sealed by heavy security.
The Gandhis had set out for Hathras from Delhi with at least 30 other Congress MPs.
The leaders had previously attempted to meet the victim’s family on 1 October, but the Uttar Pradesh Police had detained them near the Yamuna Expressway and an FIR had been lodged against around 200 party workers, including Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, under sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Epidemic Diseases Act.
Taking to Twitter, Rahul Gandhi had said that “no power in this world can stop him from meeting the family of the victim and share their grief.”
Ranvijay Singh, ADCP, Noida earlier told ANI that in order to control illegal gathering of people, the security at Delhi-UP border had been ramped up. Several Congress workers were also lathi-charged by the police.
Earlier, Awasthi met the family of the Hathras victim and assured them of stringent action against the guilty.
Sadar SDM Prem Prakash said that the restrictions had been lifted and media was now allowed to enter the village of the victim in the Hathras case.
“Since SIT probe in the village is complete, the restriction on media has been lifted. Not more than 5 media persons are now allowed to gather as Section 144 of CrPC is in place,” the SDM told news agency ANI.
(With inputs from Vivek Mishra)
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