The Unnao gang-rape survivor was critically injured and her family members killed on Sunday, 28 July, near Raebareli after a truck collided with the car in which they were travelling. The survivor and her lawyer have been critically injured and undergoing treatment at a hospital. Two of her aunts were killed in the collision.
The girl had levelled rape allegations against BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, who has been in prison over the alleged rape which took place in 2017.
‘Why Is Sengar a Part of BJP?’
Many people, including Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal raised questions on why rape-accused MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar continues to be part of the BJP.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday attacked the BJP over the collision and took a dig at the Modi government's 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' scheme.
The Congress on Monday demanded that the Supreme Court take note of the collision involving the Unnao rape survivor and intervene in the rape case. Congress Spokesperson Manish Tewari alleged that the voice of the victim is being suppressed.
"We demand that the Supreme Court takes note of the incident involving the Unnao rape victim. The 'miscarriage of justice' taking place... and the voice of victims being suppressed will stop only when the apex court directly intervenes and takes note of the entire inquiry into the Unnao rape case," he said.
‘Pre-Planned Conspiracy’: Kejriwal
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee questioned the incident, saying that there should be a high-power inquiry. “Everyday they defame Bengal but does the government have any idea about what is happening in UP? What happened in Unnao, two relatives of victim died and she is in a serious condition. There should be a high-power inquiry,” she said, according to ANI.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday termed the collision in which the Unnao rape survivor was seriously injured a "systematic attempt" to silence her.
This was a "pre-planned conspiracy" and the incident is a "mockery of the law", he said,
Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav hinted at the police being in cahoots with higher authorities. “Police are saying the accident happened due to rain, they are speaking the language of those who are sitting above them in government. The Samajwadi Party had raised victim's voice back then and did the same in Parliament today,” he said.
BSP president Mayawati on Monday urged the Supreme Court to take cognisance of the collision. Mayawati said prima facie it appears to be a "conspiracy" to kill the survivor.
"Her maternal and paternal aunts were killed and she herself and her advocate are seriously injured. The Supreme Court need to take cognisance of the matter and ensure strict action," she tweeted.
Samajwadi Party Spokesperson Ghanshyam Tiwari also targeted the BJP, particularly the women leaders of the party.
“You Thought It Only Happened in Movies?”
Several Twitter users such as journalist Rajdeep Sardesai, actor Richa Chadha and YouTuber Dhruv Rathee expressed outrage over the collision.
“Let that sink in,” journalist Barkha Dutt tweeted.
One individual in the BJP who is particularly the object of the ire of many people is Unnao MP Sakshi Maharaj who visited Sengar in jail in June this year. Editor of ThePrint Shekhar Gupta and journalist Swati Chaturvedi both mentioned Sakshi Maharaj in their tweets.
Some Twitter users pointed out that the number plate of the truck which hit the car had been blackened, which indicated that there could have been foul play.
Psephologist Yashwant Deshmukh also attacked the BJP for giving place to individuals like Sengar.
Trending on Twitter
#Unnao was among the top trends on Twitter in India. Other than that #UnnaoCase, #TumAkeliNahinHo, #DismissAjayBisht, #YogiRajGundaRaj and #BJPSackSengar were also trending.
Judging by the social media buzz surrounding the collision, the BJP might find it difficult to escape public criticism on the Unnao case. Had the party taken timely action against Kuldeep Sengar, it might have been spared the embarrassment.
However, the fact that Sengar continues to be part of the BJP and Sakshi Maharaj’s visit in June put the party in the dock on the issue.
A few people on Twitter directly accused Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath of protecting Sengar because both of them are Thakurs.
The Congress’ SC wing has also targeted Chief Minister Adityanath. The rape survivor happens to be a Dalit.
Even a few BJP supporters like Shefali Vaidya raised questions about the case and requested CM Adityanath to order an intensive probe.
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