‘Reminds of Una’: Gehlot Govt Under Fire Over Nagaur Dalit Assault

The video of the two Dalit youth being assaulted in Rajasthan’s Nagaur has snowballed into a political controversy.

The video, showing two Dalit youths in Rajasthan’s Nagaur being thrashed, stripped and assaulted with a screwdriver being inserted into the private parts of one of the victims, has snowballed into a political controversy.

While former Congress president Rahul Gandhi called the incident “horrific and sickening” and urged his party-led Rajasthan government to take immediate action, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said seven people have been arrested so far. Gehlot assured that “nobody will be spared. The culprits will be punished according to the law and we will ensure that the victims get justice.”

In the horrific incident in Nagaur, immediate and effective action has been taken and seven accused have been arrested so far. Nobody will be spared. The culprits will be punished according to the law and we will ensure that the victims get justice.

— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) February 20, 2020

The recent video of two young Dalit men being brutally tortured in Nagaur, Rajasthan is horrific & sickening. I urge the state Government to take immediate action to bring the perpetrators of this shocking crime to justice.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 20, 2020

नागौर जिले में घटित हुई दलित युवकों की बेरहमी से पिटाई का मामला गंभीर है। राज्य में कानून व्यवस्था सुदृढ़ रहे और हर नागरिक सुरक्षित महसूस करे, यह सरकार की प्राथमिकता है। यदि कोई कानून व्यवस्था अपने हाथ में लेने की कोशिश करेगा उन पर सख़्त कार्यवाही होगी।

— Sachin Pilot (@SachinPilot) February 20, 2020

Meanwhile Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal said that this incident flouts all norms of human rights.

"The case registered is under sections of normal violence while the video shows that the they had tried to kill the victims," he said.

राजस्थान की विधानसभा के बाहर @RLPINDIAorg के तीनों विधायक नागौर में दलित युवको के साथ हुए अमानवीय व्यवहार को लेकर सरकार से सख्त कार्यवाही की मांग को लेकर धरने पर बैठे है @ashokgehlot51 जी कब कुम्भकर्णी नींद से जागोगे ?#गहलोत_सरकार_शर्म_करो pic.twitter.com/XML3jw4nOv

— HANUMAN BENIWAL (@hanumanbeniwal) February 20, 2020

राज्य के मुखिया होने के नाते आपकी नैतिक जिम्मेदारी को भुलाकर आपने आलाकमान के निर्देशो के बाद घटना पर प्रतिक्रिया दी,मामले को दबाने का प्रयास करने वाले एसपी,CO,SHO के खिलाफ कार्यवाही कब करोगे,धारा 365,307 को नही जोड़ा गया आखिर ट्वीट ही करोगे या जिम्मेदारों को भी हटाओगे ?@RajCMO https://t.co/33ABdk0Ysn

— HANUMAN BENIWAL (@hanumanbeniwal) February 20, 2020

Meanwhile, Opposition parties including the BJP and its alliance partner RLP led by Beniwal questioned the police functioning which failed to take immediate cognisance in the matter as the video went viral on 16 February when the incident was reported.

The three RLP MLAs on Thursday entered the state Assembly holding placards demanding a stop to atrocities on Dalits. It being the Budget day, the Speaker had to intervene and three of them staged a walkout and then staged a 'dharna' at the entrance of the Assembly.

BJP state president Satish Poonia told IANS that state government should open its eyes at least after Rahul Gandhi's tweet. Despite incidents such as when a Dalit woman was raped and filmed in presence of her husband, the police in the state is yet to learn a lesson, he said.

"Why did the police lodge a case on 19 February and not on 16 February when it was reported?" he asked.

‘Reminds of Una Flogging’

On the other hand, Samajwadi Party president Mayawati tweeted saying the video reminded her of the Una flogging incident.

कांग्रेस-शासित राजस्थान के नागौर में दलित भाईयों के उत्पीड़न का वायरल वीडियो विचलित करने वाला है व गुजरात के ऊना आदि के दर्दनाक घटनाओं की याद दिलाता है। स्पष्ट है दलितों पर उत्पीड़न-शोषण की क्रूरता हर जगह जारी है। अति-दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण। सरकार दिखावटी नहीं बल्कि प्रभावी कार्रवाई करे।

— Mayawati (@Mayawati) February 20, 2020

Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Aazad blamed the Congress government of being “anti Dalit” and said it is no different from its political rival BJP. Aazad asked Bhim Army’s Rajasthan team visit the victim and call for a protest on 23 February.

राजस्थान में दलितों का जीना मुश्किल हो गया है। अशोक गहलोत जी कुछ शर्म बची हो तो तुरन्त कुर्सी छोड़ दो। भीम आर्मी राजस्थान की टीम तुरन्त पीड़ितों से मिले और 23 फरवरी को पूरा राजस्थान बंद कर दो। @dhenwal_anil https://t.co/QTGMWdbXUH

— Chandra Shekhar Aazad (@BhimArmyChief) February 19, 2020

Several others took to social media to condemn the incident and ask for accountability from the Gehlot government.

I cannot watch that video of the Dalit youth being brutalised in #Nagaur !!!!! Unspeakable atrocity! @ashokgehlot51 @RahulGandhi ACT NOW!!!!!!

— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) February 19, 2020

I can't even share the video of the Dalit man being tortured. India is an uncivilized country frozen in the Vedic ages that makes me sick to the core. There is no pretending otherwise.
Manuwad is the future for the privileged who choose to keep quiet today. They'll regret it.

— Iqra K (@Iqra_K_) February 20, 2020

This rape investigation and prosecution must be followed closely. https://t.co/rSIEBFfhhS

— Karuna Nundy (@karunanundy) February 20, 2020

There is an absolutely horrific video of a sexual atrocity from Rajasthan involving a Dalit man.
Not sharing because of its disturbing nature
CM @ashokgehlot51 please verify,the perpetrators are visible and should be dealt with in the strictest manner & made an example of

— Advaita Kala / अद्वैता काला (@AdvaitaKala) February 20, 2020

This wasn’t just ‘torture’. This is rape. And a horrific one too. Let’s not downplay it by calling it torture. https://t.co/LRdojcEV9P

— Rohini Singh (@rohini_sgh) February 20, 2020

(With IANS inputs)