PM, RSS, BJP practising ‘politics of crushing’ the weak, says Rahul

Bijendra Ahlawat
Tribune News Service
Faridabad, October 21

Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday accused the Prime Minister, Haryana Chief Minister, the BJP and RSS of practicising “politics of crushing” those who are weak.

“This is an attitude shared by the Prime Minister, Chief Minister of the state and the entire BJP and RSS. The attitude is if somebody is weak, he can be crushed. What you have seen is the result of this attitude,” Gandhi said while visiting the Dalit family that lost two children on Tuesday in an attack allegedly by upper caste members in Sunped village near Ballabhgarh.

Two children were burnt alive and their parents suffered burn injuries allegedly after some upper caste members set their house afire while they were sleeping.

The village today erupted in grief and indignation, with the locals blocking the National Highway 2 in protest.

As the bodies of two-and-a-half-years-old Vaibhav and 11-month-old Divya, wrapped in white shrouds, arrived, the village, about 35 km from the National Capital, plunged into grief.

Wailing soon gave way to anger and scores of villagers, walking hand in hand and shouting slogans, carried the bodies and placed them on the National Highway 2, blocking the traffic near Kelly village.

The blockade was lifted after the intervention of the district administration. The protestors also agreed to cremate the bodies of the minors after the SDM Faridabad gave them assurance that all the accused will be arrested within 24 hours.

The Congress Vice-President said, “In Haryana, there is no government for the poor and poor people are being targeted here, which is totally wrong. I have assured the victims’ family that I would do whatever they want from me, including pressuring the government.”

Asked whether he was doing politics over the incident, Rahul angrily retorted: “This is insulting when someone says it when someone comes here. It is not insulting to me; it is insulting to these people. What is a photo-op. What you mean?

“People are dying. I will keep coming to such places.”

CPI(M) politburo member Brinda Karat too met the bereaved family to condole the death of the minors.  “They (the parents) only have one question, what was their children’s fault? This is such a barbaric murder.

“The administration has failed miserably in this (tackling the incident). What was the police doing? The accused must be arrested immediately,” Karat, who led a party delegation to the village, said.

Haryana DGP Y.P. Singal said the situation in the village was under control and the Dalit family had agreed to conduct the last rites of the two toddlers.

He said the officer in-charge Ballabgarh Police station Anil Kumar and seven other policemen have been suspended for dereliction of duty in connection with the incident.

Singhal said the incident, according to investigations so far, was the result of enmity between Dalit and Rajput families of the village.

CBI probe recommended

Meanwhile, the Haryana Government today recommended a CBI probe into the incident.

“Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has recommended a CBI probe in the incident. A SIT has also been formed which is headed by Deputy Commissioner of Police, Puran Chand,” Khattar’s media adviser, Amit Arya said.

The government has also announced Rs 10 lakh and a job to the victims’ family, he said.

Arya said the Chief Minister would visit the village tomorrow and meet the bereaved family.

“He had planned to go today, but now he will be going tomorrow,” Arya said.

The Special Investigating Team (SIT) of the state police will probe the case before the CBI takes it over, police sources said. Once the CBI probe gets notified, the investigation details will be handed over to them as per procedure.  (With inputs from PTI)