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Lynched Dalit's kin 'refuse' to meet Rahul, 'go back' posters surface in UP
The victim's family said they are "satisfied with the action taken by the Yogi Adityanath government."
The family of Hari Om Valmiki, the man who was lynched in Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli on suspicion of theft, has released a video statement announcing that they do not wish to meet Rahul Gandhi or any other opposition leader during his planned visit on Friday.
The family said they are "satisfied with the action taken by the Yogi Adityanath government" and urged political leaders not to “cash in on the tragedy.”
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"We don't want Rahul Gandhi or leaders from any other party to come here and do politics. We are satisfied with the government's response. My brother's murderers are in jail and an appropriate action has been taken," Hari Om Valmiki's brother said in the video.
The video statement surfaced just hours before Gandhi's scheduled arrival in Fatehpur.
"Go back" posters emerge in Fatehpur
Apart from the video statement, posters saying "Don't encash the tragedy, go back" appeared on the street leading to the family's home ahead of Gandhi's scheduled visit.
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Hari Om Valmiki, a Dalit and native of the Fatehpur district, was beaten to death by a mob in the Unchahar area of Rae Bareli on October 2 after being mistaken for a thief. Police have so far arrested 12 accused in the case.
‘Not allowed to meet’: Congress's allegations
The Congress claimed the party's state president was prevented from visiting the victim's family.
A statement issued by the party claimed that Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee president and former minister Ajay Rai was on his way to Valmiki's residence in Fatehpur on Saturday to express condolences to his family and provide financial assistance on behalf of the party; however, the government prevented him from proceeding.
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After being stopped by the police, the state Congress president got out of his car and sat on a dharna on the road.
Victim's family meets Yogi Adityanath
An official statement stated that Hari Om Valmiki's wife, Sangeeta Valmiki, along with her father, Chhote Lal, and daughter, Ananya, met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, accompanied by Manoj Pandey, the MLA from Unchahar. The chief minister expressed his condolences to the bereaved family.
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Earlier, Rakesh Sachan, Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Khadi, Handloom, and Textiles, and Asim Arun, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Social Welfare, met with the bereaved family on Saturday and assured them of justice and strict action against the perpetrators.
