New Delhi, Apr 17 (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday lashed out at the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh over the alleged rape of an 11-year-old Dalit girl and demanded strict action against the culprit.
In a post in Hindi on X, Gandhi said such crimes were "happening continuously" in the state due to the BJP's anti-Dalit and anti-women mindset.
The deaf-and-mute girl went missing on Tuesday and was found in a field the next morning. She was bleeding from her private parts, and there were bite marks on her body. The girl is undergoing treatment at a hospital and is stated to be critical.
"The brutality and cruelty inflicted on an 11-year-old Dalit girl in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, is extremely shameful and shocking. Such crimes happening continuously in UP clearly prove that Dalits, and especially daughters, are completely unsafe under the BJP government.
"It is the result of the BJP's anti-Dalit and anti-women mindset that criminals are fearless of law and order, and victims are helpless! Till when will the daughters of Uttar Pradesh continue to be victims of such brutality," Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X.
"We have a simple demand from the administration - take strict action against the culprit and provide speedy justice to the victim and her family," the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha said.
Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Police on Thursday arrested a 24-year-old man within 24 hours of the incident.
Daan Singh was caught following a brief exchange of fire with police on Wednesday night in which he was injured, officials said.
उत्तर प्रदेश के रामपुर में 11 वर्षीय दलित बेटी के साथ हुई दरिंदगी और क्रूरता बेहद शर्मनाक और झकझोरने वाली है।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 17, 2025
UP में लगातार ऐसे अपराध साफ़ तौर पर साबित करते हैं कि BJP सरकार में दलित, और विशेष रूप से बेटियां, पूरी तरह असुरक्षित हैं।
ये BJP की दलित और महिला विरोधी मानसिकता का…
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Kalaburagi: The Kalyana Karnataka edition of the Kannada daily Vartha Bharati was launched on Saturday at a grand programme held at Dr S M Pandit Rangamandira in Kalaburagi.
The new edition was formally launched by The Wire Editor-in-Chief Siddharth Varadarajan. The programme was inaugurated by Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker Dr U T Khader.
Multilingual actor and social activist Prakash Raj, Minister for Small Industries and Public Enterprises Sharanabasappa Darshanapur, Minister for Municipal Administration and Haj Rahim Khan, Vice-Chairperson of the State Policy and Planning Commission and Aland MLA B R Patil, Chairman of the State Waqf Board and Sajjada Nashin of the Khwaja Bande Nawaz Dargah Hazrat Syed Muhammad Ali Al Hussaini, and Kalaburagi South MLA Allamaprabhu Patil were present as chief guests.
Also present on the dais were Koraneswara Mahaswamiji of the Tontadarya Anubhava Mantapa, Aland; Bishop of Kalaburagi Rev Fr Robert Miranda; Pujya Bhante Varajyothi of Anandur; social activist K Neela; farmers’ leader Chamarasa Mali Patil; DSS State Convenor D G Sagar; and activist and singer Ambanna Arolikar as special guests.
Vartha Bharati Founder Director Yaseen Malpe delivered the introductory address. H.M. Afroz Assadi, President of Madhyama Communications Ltd presided over the programme. Editor-in-Chief Abdussalam Puthige was also present.
Progressive thinkers, social activists, farmers, workers, student organisation activists, and readers and viewers from various districts and taluks participated in the programme.
