BJP-RSS consider Bahujan lives cheap, alleges Rahul
Accusing the BJP-RSS of considering Bahujan lives “cheap", Leader of Opposition (LOP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday alleged that the saffron party “is giving a free hand to violence wearing the mask of discrimination".
The Congress leader’s remarks came after the killing of a Dalit youth in Hisar.
Taking to X, he said, “When power sits in the lap of Manuvadi thinking, the lives of Dalits have no value! The murder of a Dalit youth Ganesh Valmiki in Hisar, Haryana, and the brutality done to his family is not just a crime — it is the ugly face of the Manuvadi system of BJP-RSS which considers the lives of Bahujans in India cheap today, which does not consider them worthy of equality and respect."
He also said the victim’s family alleged that Ganesh was murdered by the police, and even after nine days, no action had been taken. “When the family went to seek justice, they were harassed instead," he said.
This was not an isolated incident. In the past 11 years, cases of atrocities on Dalits, tribals and minorities had increased, he claimed.
Targeting PM Narendra Modi, he said, “The Modi government has not only maintained silence on these atrocities, but also by weakening the constitutional institutions, it has made the police and administration a weapon of such crimes and a shield for criminals. In Modi’s era, being a Dalit, being poor, being deprived — has become a crime."
He added, “I stand firmly with the victim’s family. This is not just a fight for justice for a family, it is a fight for social justice and the soul of India. Immediate strict action should be taken against the culprits — this is the minimum justice."
Meanwhile, denying the role of the police in the youth’s death, the ADGP (Hisar police range), KK Rao, claimed that a group of youths assaulted the police during a clash in their locality, when the police had gone there to stop the playing of loud DJ music at night. The police also released CCTV footage to support their claim.
After the visit of Sirsa MP Kumari Selja at the dharna site yesterday evening, the former CM of Punjab, Charanjit Singh Channi, too, met the family of the victim. The family, along with others, have been sitting on a dharna at the Civil Hospital and has refused to accept the body until a case was registered against the guilty police personnel.
The matter pertains to a clash over loud music at a birthday party when the police went there to stop the DJ. A clash ensued, in which some cops suffered injuries, and Ganesh fell off a rooftop while trying to escape. The family alleged that he was pushed by the police.
The police released two videos, claiming that they arrived at the spot after 11 pm. Ganesh and his friends had blocked the street and were dancing on loud music. The police team was attacked with sticks, stones, and sharp objects when it tried to intervene.
The administration has served a notice to the family under the Haryana Honourable Disposal of Dead Body Act, 2024, to conduct the last rites of the victim, but they have refused to do so.
Victim’s family meets CM
A delegation from the community, including Ganesh’s father, met CM Nayab Singh Saini in the presence of Cabinet minister Krishan Bedi and Bawani Khera MLA Kapoor Singh Valmiki. Expressing satisfaction after the meeting, the members said five key demands had been accepted by the CM. The demands include registration of an FIR, constitution of a medical board for the post-mortem and job to a family member of the deceased. Bedi claimed Ganesh’s cremation would take place in Hisar tomorrow.
Haryana Tribune