Congress alleges Delhi has become hotspot of rapes

New Delhi: Congress party has urged the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe Commission to ensure that justice is delivered in Delhi Dalit minor alleged rape and murder case. The SC/ST Commission used to be stringent and efficient under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, said Delhi Congress President Anil Chaudhary.

Launching a scathing attack both on Central and Delhi Government, Congress party member on Wednesday, said Delhi has become a hotspot of rapists. Congress leaders also raised the demand for hearing the case in a fast-track court to ensure justice to the minor. Candlelight march across Delhi has been planned by the party along with the provision of financial assistance to the deceased family, said Chaudhary.

He also tear into Bharatiya Janata Party for questioning Rahul Gandhi's visit to victim's family earlier today. "Bharatiya Janata Party should be ashamed of itself. Prime Minister should apologize on behalf of his leaders for giving such statements. As per the Delhi Police data, more than 15,000 cases have been reported in the national capital between 2014 to 2021. Why Rahul Gandhi had to go there? It is because the victim was a Dalit, police was not even ready to register an FIR in this matter." told Chaudhary to ETV Bharat. "Making such statements is not just an insult to that victim but also an attack on the democracy in our country," he added.

After Rahul Gandhi's visit, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also visited Delhi Cantonment area to meet the family of the deceased, where he announced a magisterial inquiry in this alleged rape case. However, Delhi Congress Chief attacked Kejriwal saying, "Delhi Chief Minister is an opportunist. Why he didn't visit the family earlier? He tweeted about his visit after Congress leaders reached the spot. I don't know if Delhi has become a Vista city or not, but it surely has become a hotspot of rapes. The rapists feel safest in Delhi. So who is responsible for that?"

The Congress party also raised the matter in Parliament. Congress Rajya Sabha MP Shaktisinh Gohil, on Tuesday, gave notice for suspension of business in the upper house to discuss the matter. While addressing media, Gohil said, "Neither the Chief Minister nor the Prime Minister, who had promised the safety of women at the time of elections, went to wipe the tears of the deceased family. The one who is in government has the responsibility to go there first, but he didn't."

"Rahul Gandhi listened to all woes of the victim's mother, and also promised her father that the entire country is standing firm with them to seek justice for the girl," he further added. Later, after his visit, Rahul Gandhi also tweeted over this matter, saying, "Her parents' tears are saying only one thing- their daughter, the daughter of this country, deserves justice. And I'm with them on this path of justice."

A nine-year-old girl, resident of Delhi's Cantonment area was allegedly raped and murdered on Sunday. The issue came to light after the minor girl was cremated without her parents' consent at Old Nangal crematorium after she was found dead there. A priest working at the crematorium, who had pressurized the family to perform the last rites of the dead body, had been charged with murder.

According to the parents, the minor girl had gone to get cold water from the water cooler at the crematorium, but did not return for a long time. It was then that they were informed by the priest that the girl allegedly died of electrocution while trying to get cold water from the water cooler. The priest had also told the girl's parents to refrain from filing a case in the police station, saying that if the girl's body would be taken to a hospital, her organs would be stolen. The girl's parents and relatives have also alleged that burn marks were observed on the body of their daughter, unlike that of electrocution.

The accused priest and three other men have been booked under Sections 302, 376 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code, along with the relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the SC/ST Act. On the other hand, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) also took a suo motu cognizance of the alleged rape, murder, and cremation of the minor girl without her parents' consent, and has written to the DCP South West, asking him to furnish a detailed report within 48 hours. Even the Delhi Commission for Women too has taken cognizance of the matter and has sought a report on the same.