New Delhi:
Rahul Gandhi reached India Gate today for a candle light vigil to protest the Kathua and Unnao rape cases. Stressing on the nature of the march to be held as silent and peaceful, the Congress chief said that he feels the equal amount of pain like millions of Indians. "Join me in a silent, peaceful, candlelight vigil at India Gate at midnight tonight to protest this violence and demand justice. India simply cannot continue to treat its women the way it does," he said. Mr Gandhi had been called out on social media for not speaking up even as the party's leaders in Jammu appeared to back protests in support of those arrested in little the girl's killing. The march is to take place in a short while.
Here are the highlights of Rahul Gandhi's candle light march at India Gate:
"Think about the cause for which you have come here": Priyanka Gandhi "This is a matter of the women of India, not a political one": Rahul Gandhi
"We want the government to investigate the matter. Women of India are afraid to walk out of their houses today. Wherever you see women are raped, murdered. We want the government to do something about this. This is a national issue not a political one. This a matter of our women," said Mr Gandhi.
It's a fashion war, people are taking selfies, says BJP leader
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 added.
Congress workers protest against Kathua, Unnao rape at Indiagate
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra at Indiagate protest along with daughter Miriya and son Raihan
Sonia Gandhi to join candlelight vigil
When guard of the country is sleeping, we have to do something about it: Ghulam Nabi Azad
"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," said Ghulam Nabi Azad.
Rahul Gandhi arrives at India Gate for the protest
"We are here to give a message - darkness will not prevail": Salman Khurshid
"We are here to share pain, to share the sense of loss. To be able to give a message that this darkness will not overwhelm us, that darkness will not prevail," said former foreign minister Salman Khurshid.
"Sab chalta hai will not do"
Stressing on the fact that the protest was a non-political one, Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said that the "Sab chalta hai" attitude will not do and that the government needs to do something about the situation. "It is a protest to ensure that a government blinded by political power does something about the situation," he said.
"Beti bachao, beti padhao, not a slogan but warning by the BJP": Congress
In a blatant attack on the BJP, the Congress said that the party's Beti bajao slogan was not a slogan but a warning which meant save the daughter from the BJP. "On one side, Yogi Adityanath is protecting the BJP MLA, on the other side; the PDD-BJP government has failed to give justice to the Kathua rape victim," said Congress leader Randeep Surjewala.
Hundreds of people gather at India Gate for candle light vigil
"There is an entire system which will protect a criminal who to get votes"
A bunch of angry prostestors expressed their views on the Kathua rape case tagging the incident as disgusting. "I think we are disgusted. There is an entire system which will protect a criminal to get votes: Rupel, a protestor. "Its absolutely shocking. Can you imagine what the family must have gone through. We will do everything to avenge it," said another protester.