Think about the cause for which you have come here: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
Highlights
- Priyanka Vadra asked people to think about the cause for the march
- Congress leaders also joined in protesting the Unnao and Kathua rapes
- Rahul Gandhi had tweeted about his intention to go on a candle march
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi led a midnight march to the India Gate Thursday night to protest the Kathua and Unnao minor rape cases. His sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who was also present there, got shoved by some in a chaotic crowd, prompting her to ask people to think about the cause for which they had assembled there.
"Those who are here to push around people must go home. Now please maintain calm and walk silently," an angry Priyanka Vadra told the crowd.
"Think about the cause for which you have come here," she said, reported news agency PTI.
Rahul Gandhi was protesting against the "silence" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the rapes and to seek justice for the victims.
Congress workers at a candle light march against the Kathua rape
Chilling details of the 8-year-old torture outlined by the police in court that the outrage peaked. The girl was kidnapped on January 10 by a group of men to drive out her Muslim Bakerwal community from a village in Kathua. She was kept sedated and gang-raped repeatedly for days by a group that included police officers. When the police made arrests, a local Hindu group supported by politicians insisted they were being framed due to politics.
Several senior Congress leaders, including Ahmed Patel, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ambika Soni, joined the Thursday midnight candle-light protest. People also gathered at the place in sizeable numbers to express their support.
The Congress President tweeted on late Thursday night about his intention to go on a candle march.
Priyanka Vadra's husband Robert Vadra was also present in the protest march to the India Gate. He said the country needs a change where women could feel safe.
Rahul Gandhi was called out on social media about the girl's horrific ordeal. He broke his silence and wondered how anyone could "protect the culprits of such evil? What happened to [her] #Kathua is a crime against humanity. It cannot go unpunished."
A huge crowd gathered for the march where slogans were raised against the Narendra Modi-led BJP government.
(With inputs from PTI and IANS)