‘How do we know these ashes are our daughter’s’: Priyanka raises queries of Hathras girl’s kin

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 3

After the UP government recommended a CBI probe into the Hathras tragedy, AICC General Secretary, UP, Priyanka Vadra took to Twitter to post some questions raised for the state by the family of the victim.

हाथरस के पीड़ित परिवार के प्रश्न:
1. सुप्रीम कोर्ट के जरिए पूरे मामले की न्यायिक जाँच हो
2. हाथरस DM को सस्पेंड किया जाए और किसी बड़े पद पर नहीं लगाया जाए
3. हमारी बेटी के शव को बगैर हमसे पूछे पेट्रोल से क्यों जलाया गया?
4. हमें बार-बार गुमराह किया, धमकाया क्यों जा रहा है? 1/2

— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) October 3, 2020

“The family says they have collected the mortal remains of their daughter but how can they be sure the remains belong to their daughter since her body was cremated using petrol in the dead of the night without the consent of the kin.”

Vadra speaking for the family said, “The victim’s family wants an SC-led judicial probe, they want that the suspended Hathras DM should not be appointed at any other crucial post. They are asking why their daughter was cremated with petrol and why are they being threatened. They are saying where’s the surety the mortal remains they have collected are of their daughter. The family has the right to these answers and the UP government will have to provide these answers.”

Earlier, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra met the family of the Dalit woman who died this week after she was allegedly gang-raped, triggering nationwide outrage.

Uttar Pradesh authorities had scuttled an earlier attempt by the two leaders to travel to Hathras, detaining them and several party workers in Greater Noida outside Delhi.

On Saturday, the party staged another show of strength at the Delhi-Noida border. The UP Police said they will allow five party representatives to meet the family in the village in Hathras district.

The 19-year-old woman was allegedly gang-raped on September 14 in an assault by four men that left her critically injured. She died at a Delhi hospital last Tuesday.

Earlier, in a dramatic twist following massive police arrangements and traffic chaos, Rahul Gandhi Vadra and his sister Priyanka Gandhi along with other party leaders were allowed to meet the family of the girl.

Succeeding in his second attempt to meet the victim's family, Rahul made the announcement from the Delhi-Noida Direct (DND) flyway where he, Congress General Secretary Priyanka and various Congress MPs and supporters were stopped by the police from entering Uttar Pradesh in the afternoon, leading to massive traffic jams with people stuck on the 9.2-km stretch for more than one hour. 

"Five Congress leaders have been allowed to visit Hathras," announced Rahul Gandhi.

It was Rahul and Priyanka's second attempt to visit Hathras. On Thursday, Gandhi was allegedly pushed to the ground by Uttar Pradesh Police personnel when he was marching towards Hathras after their vehicles were stopped on the Yamuna Expressway in Gautam Budh Nagar. — With agency inputs

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