Congress leaders, led by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, held candlelight vigil in Delhi, demanding justice in Kathua and Unnao rape cases.
Among those who joined the protesters included senior Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Digvijay Singh. “When the prime minister sleeps, Congress has to do the job of waking him up. Right now, at this point of time, all the governments are sleeping. We had said this before as well, that women and children are in danger in your government,” Azad was quoted as saying.
BJP leader Vaibhav Agarwal tagged the protest by a Congress as a fashion war and said that the party was politicising the issue. “This is clearly a demonstration to politicise the issue. People are taking selfies for god’s sake. It’s a fashion war,” he said. “There is a process of law. If the agency has been given a case, allow them to have a probe. Why is there so much defence?” he was quoted by NDTV. Agarwal, however, did not explain as to why Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a self-proclaimed champion of women’s rights, has been silent on the issue.
Hashtag #JusticeForAsifa has been a top Twitter trend with citizens and commentators posting angry messages condemning the BJP government led by Modi for the unprecedented situation concerning women’s safety in the states ruled by BJP and allies.
Yes, Rahul Gandhi and others are seeking a political mileage from Kathua and Unnao cases. But why is your supreme leader allowing them to get that, why doesn’t he ensure quick and right action through his state governments. #MaunModi
— Unofficial Rofl Gandhi (@RoflGandhi_) April 12, 2018
Come n join #RahulGandhi ji n show your solidarity towards the hapless women victims of the country…
Let us all unite n walk tonight with rays of light, to remove the darkness in the lives of women, who are molested n abused n cannot get justice under the present BJP rule.— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) April 12, 2018
I am so gutted on not being part of this candle march in Delhi tonight. Thank you everyone, who stood up for Asifa and Unnao’s girl. #JusticeforAsifa
— Rifat Jawaid (@RifatJawaid) April 12, 2018
This is the man accused of satiating his lust one last time before 8 year old Asiya was brutally strangulated. The minor’s head was then hit with a stone to ensure life was snuffed out of her. Sigh. pic.twitter.com/SEvyunmwj6
— Mufti Islah (@islahmufti) April 12, 2018
From Akhlaq to Asifa……If you still think Modi and BJP are best bet to govern India, good luck to you!
— nikhil wagle (@waglenikhil) April 12, 2018
Earlier on Thursday, Gandhi had posted a couple of tweets after critics questioned his silence on Asifa’s and Unnao rape victim’s cases. His first tweet read, “How can anyone protect the culprits of such evil? What happened to Asifa at #Kathua is a crime against humanity. It cannot go unpunished. What have we become if we allow politics to interfere with such unimaginable brutality perpetrated on an innocent child?.”
His another tweet asked people to join him for a silent candlelight vigil at India at midnight. It said, “Like millions of Indians my heart hurts tonight. India simply cannot continue to treat its women the way it does. Join me in a silent, peaceful, candlelight vigil at India Gate at midnight tonight to protest this violence and demand justice.
