Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has vehemently condemned the brutal mob lynching of Dalit youth Hariom Valmiki in Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh, while in a strong statement, he described the incident as not just the killing of a person, but 'a murder of humanity, the constitution, and justice. ' Taking to X, Gandhi alleged that 'hatred, violence, and mob rule' in the country are receiving 'patronage from the state, while ' He asserted that India will be governed by its constitution, not by the whims of a mob.
Rahul Gandhi's Stance
Gandhi further stated that 'the bulldozer has replaced the constitution, and fear has replaced justice. ' He emphasized that India's future rests on equality and humanity. He also spoke to Hariom's family over the phone, assuring them of support and justice, stating that the Congress family stands with them.
Incident Details and Action Taken
Hariom Valmiki was murdered on October 2nd, while initially, he was falsely accused of being a drone thief. Videos later surfaced showing the youth being beaten, in which he was heard taking Rahul Gandhi's name, prompting a mob member to declare allegiance to 'Baba' (likely referring to Yogi Adityanath). In response to negligence, six police personnel, including Unchahar Station House Officer Sanjay Kumar, have been suspended, and ten individuals have been arrested in connection with the crime.
Rahul Gandhi, along with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, issued a joint letter condemning the 'brutal and cruel murder. ' The letter highlighted that such incidents are a grave crime against the constitution and the Dalit community, staining the nation's fabric. They expressed deep concern over the rising number of crimes against Dalits, minorities, and the poor, drawing parallels with other incidents like Hathras, Unnao, Rohit Vemula's institutional murder, and mob lynchings of Pehlu Khan and Akhlaq, while the leaders asserted that 'mob lynching, bulldozer injustice, and mob rule' have become a 'horrifying identity' of the times since 2014, urging citizens to unite against such injustice for the sake of social justice, equality, and human dignity.
Joint Letter with Kharge
