The nation is seething with anger over the brutal assault on the girl from Hathras, which presents an escalating concern for the Yogi administration. For 15 agonizing days, she hovered between life and death, but her fight ended in Delhi on Tuesday. A sudden cremation arranged by the police triggered a massive outcry from opposition parties and Dalit leaders on social media and streets, thereby challenging the political stability of Yogi Adityanath's leadership.
On the fateful morning of September 14, this horror unfolded in Boolgarhi village of Chandpa police station area, Hathras. A young woman, while reaping grass in the fields, was forcibly taken by four local youths into a nearby bajra field, where humanity was disgraced. Upon resistance, she was brutally beaten and left for dead by the assailants. The police in Hathras took nine days to file charges of gang rape, raising questions about the efficacy of the law enforcement system.
Social Engineering in Disarray
The BJP reclaimed power in 2017 after a 14-year hiatus, largely due to the critical support from the Dalit community, especially the Valmiki sect, traditionally leaning towards the BJP after distancing from BSP due to Mayawati's Jatav favoritism. The incident has stirred significant anger within the Dalit communities, which could become a significant worry for the Yogi government.
With the assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh looming just a year and a half away, the opposition is keen on portraying Yogi's leadership as constituting a caste-preferred regime. In this backdrop, then BJP president and current Home Minister Amit Shah successfully solidified BJP's base among non-Jatav Dalits, prominently including the Valmiki community, ahead of the 2017 elections. However, the Hathras case threatens to unravel this meticulously crafted social engineering strategy, posing a challenge for Yogi Adityanath come 2022.
Protests Surge from Social Media to Streets
Stirred by the Hathras tragedy, Congress has mobilized protests from digital platforms to physical rallies, critiquing the Yogi administration. Dalit leaders like P.L. Punia and Udit Raj, alongside party workers, have taken to the streets demanding justice for the victim, staging demonstrations at Vijay Chowk. Congress workers across Uttar Pradesh, led by state president Ajay Kumar Lallu, have orchestrated candlelight marches in Lucknow, echoing calls for justice from the Women’s Congress. Congress emphasizes that the more the Yogi government attempts to silence dissent, the louder it will resound.
Direct Attack from Rahul-Priyanka on Yogi
Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi are vociferous against the Yogi administration following the Hathras incident. Rahul criticized the government for perpetuating caste-based violence, while labeling it as 'fake news' and abandoning the victim. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress General Secretary and Uttar Pradesh in-charge, pointed fingers at the severely deteriorated law-and-order situation, asserting that women’s safety is a grave concern, and criminals roam freely in the state. The Hathras case, combined with back-to-back sexual assaults in Shahjahanpur and Gorakhpur, has jolted the state.
Outrage within Dalit Community
In relentless pursuit of justice for the Hathras victim, Dalit activists have taken a stand against the government, rallying outside Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital. Led by Bhim Army and other Dalit organizations, they voiced empassioned slogans against the Yogi administration. With grim resolve, leaders like Chandrashekhar Azad warned that the Dalit community would not rest until the perpetrators faced the death penalty, marking a pivotal stance in the struggle for due justice. Consequently, Chandrashekhar was detained by the police, as the victim's family was taken to Hathras and the hurried funeral occurred at night. The Dalit community hinted at a potential nationwide shutdown.
Mayawati Critiques Yogi Government
BSP chief Mayawati, usually supportive of Yogi's regime on various issues, has vehemently criticized the authorities about the Hathras case, demanding capital punishment for the accused. She called the attack on a Dalit girl in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras district brutal and disgraceful, veering into territories of safety concerns for women of all communities. Mayawati pressed for immediate trials in fast-track courts, demanding all possible aid for the victim’s family.
Samajwadi Party Advocates for Justice
SP leader Akhilesh Yadav amplified the call for justice on social media, rallying party’s women workers to the streets for action. In memory of the braveheart, candles were lit within party premises as police obstructed their march outside. Former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav poignantly commemorated the victim, expressing despair at the governance's apathy and further disillusionment with contemporary leadership.
AAP Against Yogi Administration
Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party’s MP Sanjay Singh persistently blames Yogi Adityanath's administration for exacerbating caste dynamics. Blaming the government for the gang rape victim’s death in Hathras, AAP held the UP administration accountable for backing the culprits. Sanjay Singh argued there exists an absence of safety for women as heinous crimes persist and demanded expedited justice via a fast-track court, alongside financial and protective support for the victim’s family.
Source: aajtak
Hastaras: The cremation conducted amidst heavy village protests
The mother of the Hathras victim speaks: 'My bloodied daughter proves the police lie.'
