Mangaluru: Members of the Dakshina Kannada Youth Congress held a candlelight vigil on Thursday evening near the Mahatma Gandhi Statue in front of MCC office building to seek justice for the Hathras gangrape victim. The DK Congress Mahila Morcha were also part of the vigil.
Several lit candles were placed at the Mahatma Gandhi statue, while an effigy of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was burnt.
At the vigil, protesters were seen with banners that read “The government that couldn’t save our daughters is useless”, “Say no to rape”, “Shame on Modi and Yogi govt for murdering young women” etc.
Speaking on the occasion, DK Youth Congress president Mithun Rai accused the Yogi administration and the UP police of trying to downplay the horrific crime.
“When her condition worsened, the girl was admitted to a hospital in Delhi. It is sad that she passed away. It is even more disturbing to note that her body was brought to Hathras by the police and her last rites were performed in the absence of her family. It is learnt that her family members were locked inside their house during the last rites. It looks like there is a ‘jungle raj’ in Uttar Pradesh,” he said.
Speaking further, Rai said that he hopes that through the candlelight vigil, the ‘light’ will change people’s minds and their perception of women. “The rape victim did not die, but was murdered by Yogi’s ruthless government and her body was forcibly consigned to the flames. The BJP government should be ashamed for not being able to protect women and for allowing the rich men to rape and assault poor women. The Hathras rape victim was forced into a car by three to four men, drugged and raped. They broke her back and legs and sent her back in a rickshaw. She couldn’t even walk properly. This act is ruthless and calls for the death sentence. This incident has shocked the nation and the silence of the majority should not be tolerated,” he said.
He said that the people’s voices need to reach the Prime Minister and justice needs to be delivered.
“Indian daughters are not safe. Violence against women is on the rise. This issue needs to be addressed. We will fight till justice is served,” he said, adding that their fight will continue till the girl’s family gets justice.
