Lakhimpur Kheri | BJP-RSS trying to give communal colour to rape and murder case, says Congress
The Hindu
Congress seeks justice for the families of the victims
The BJP is trying to give a communal colour to the rape and murder of two Dalit sisters in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri, the Congress alleged on Friday as it sought “fast-track justice for the families of the victims”.
The principal Opposition party also demanded that the Narendra Modi government implement the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe Act with “full force”.
Addressing a press conference, Rajesh Lilothia, who heads Congress’ Scheduled Caste department, said the alleged rape and murder of the two sisters should not be seen as an isolated incident and alleged that atrocities against Dalits have been rising.
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data revealed that 70,818 cases of atrocities against Dalits are pending investigation till 2021, he said.
“In Uttar Pradesh, it is worrying to note that there have been 61,000 cases of atrocities against Dalits and women in the past four years. The BJP and its people are trying to give the Lakhimpur Kheri incident a communal colour to dilute it,” Mr. Lilothia alleged.
“This is a very serious matter and I would like to appeal to not do politics over this sad and unfortunate incident,” he added.
The Congress leader alleged that the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) are resorting to divisive politics.