Rahul Gandhi speaks to kin of Dalit man killed in Sagar

BHOPAL: The murder of a Dalit man who was a witness to the lynching of his nephew in Khurai in Sagar district, followed by the mysterious death of his 20-year-old niece has erupted as a major political issue in the last lap of Lok Sabha elections.
On Tuesday, state Congress president Jitu Patwari met the bereaved family in their village. He dialled Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, who also consoled the family members and assured them all possible help.
The family members said that names of three accused persons were not in the FIR and accuse the administration of pressurizing to agree to a compromise. Patwari demanded a CBI inquiry in the case.
Rahul tweeted: "Narendra Modi has ended the rule of law. Just thinking about what BJP leaders have done to this Dalit family in Madhya Pradesh fills my heart with pain and anger. It is a matter of shame that under BJP rule, the govt is always found standing with culprits instead of victimized women."
"Such incidents break the courage of every person who has no other way to seek justice except the law. I assure you that we will create such a system where even the weakest person will be able to raise his voice strongly against oppression. We cannot allow justice to become dependent on wealth and power," he added.
Congress functionary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also lodged a strong protest. "What happened with this Dalit sister in Madhya Pradesh is heart-wrenching. BJP people are targeting the Constitution because they do not want women, Dalits, Adivasis, and backward classes of the country to live with dignity or have their voices heard anywhere. Whether it's the wrestler sisters in Delhi, the victims of Hathras-Unnao, or this horrifying incident, wherever there has been an atrocity against a woman, Narendra Modi and his government have protected the accused. The women of the country are no longer going to remain silent."
Former CM Kamal Nath also expressed grief over the incident and questioned law and order in state.
On Monday, former CM Digvijaya Singh visited the family. Nine months ago, he had 'adopted as his niece' the 20-year-old woman, who died mysteriously in a fall from a hearse carrying her murdered uncle's body. In 2019, she had filed a molestation complaint against an influential family of her village, which triggered relentless intimidation and violence.
Her brother was murdered in Aug last year. She, her mother and the now murdered uncle were eyewitnesses to the killing. The family suspects the 20-year-old woman, too, was murdered, said Patwari on Tuesday.
"There is jungle raj in Madhya Pradesh. The victim's brother was publicly murdered in Barodia Nonagir in Aug 2023 and his mother was stripped. Today, I heard the pain of the family. They are scared. But the govt of chief minister Mohan Yadav is watching this orgy of death. Congress stands with the victims' family and we will fight against this grave injustice," Patwari said.
The PCC chief demanded a CBI inquiry. "Otherwise we will go to court and demand a CBI investigation," Patwari said. He donated Rs one lakh each to the families of both victims.