The survivor of the horrific Unnao gangrape case and her mother held a crucial meeting with senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi on Wednesday evening. The family sought assistance in their ongoing legal battle against convicted former BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar, who was recently granted bail by the court.
A Plea for Safety and Justice
During the emotional meeting, the victim expressed deep fears for her life, stating she could be killed despite having CRPF security. She formally requested relocation to a Congress-ruled state for her safety. The survivor also highlighted the unprecedented nature of the court's decision, stating, "This is the first time that a rape convict's sentence has been suspended... The court showed sympathy with the convict and not with a victim of gangrape." She argued that this order has weakened the daughters of the country and demanded that Sengar's bail be annulled.
Rahul Gandhi responded by promising to arrange a top lawyer to fight her case in the Supreme Court and to help facilitate her move to a safer state. He also agreed to look into her husband's plea for better employment. Sources present noted that both Rahul and Sonia Gandhi's eyes welled up as the survivor narrated her ordeal.
Condemnation of Police Action at India Gate
The meeting followed a distressing incident a day earlier, on Tuesday, when Delhi Police personnel broke up the family's protest at India Gate by dragging the survivor away. This action drew sharp criticism from the Opposition. Taking to social media platform X, Rahul Gandhi tagged a video of the police action and questioned if such treatment of a victim of a heinous crime was "appropriate."
He lamented that such actions, coupled with a "dead economy," were turning India into a "dead society." The Congress party subsequently demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and the Delhi Police provide answers for the forceful intervention.
Political Reactions and the Road Ahead
Rahul Gandhi strongly criticized the bail granted to Kuldeep Sengar, calling it "extremely disappointing and shameful." He emphasized the distress caused because the survivor continues to face harassment and lives in constant fear. "Is it her 'fault' that she has the courage to raise her voice for justice?" he asked. In a pointed remark, the Leader of the Opposition summed up the situation: "Bail for rapists, and treating survivors like criminals - what kind of justice is this?"
After the meeting, the survivor, wearing a mask, informed reporters that Rahul Gandhi assured her of all possible help and asked her not to lose hope. She also revealed that she has sought time for meetings with both the Prime Minister and the President of India, Droupadi Murmu. "The President is a woman and would understand a woman's pain," she stated, highlighting her continued quest for justice and security at the highest levels of the nation.
