Truth has prevailed: Priyanka on CBI’s Hathras chargesheet

“The state left no stone unturned to deny the victim dignity— in life and death. She was cremated without her family’s consent in the middle of the night. Senior police officers and bureaucrats outrightly denied any rape, intimated her family and indulged in blatant shaming of the victim,” alleged Priyanka.

She said sections of media that dared to report the truth were “manhandled”. “However, the entire might of the Uttar Pradesh government and police could not suppress the truth,” she said, adding that she cannot forget the “anguish” of the victim’s mother, who could not even bid her daughter goodbye.

Priyanka further said that she is “heartened to see that an important step towards providing justice has been taken by the CBI, and I hope that it will bring the victim’s family some comfort amidst the immense suffering that they have so courageously endured”.

Samajwadi Party chief and former UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said nothing can be achieved, not even justice, without fighting the BJP government in the state.

“Bhajapa Sarkar se bina lare kuch bhi nahi milta, na insaf, na haq (Nothing can be achieved, neither justice nor rights, without fighting the BJP government),” he tweeted. The SP chief said the CBI inquiry was ordered by the government following pressure from the media, Opposition and public.

The chargesheet was filed in a local court against four accused. The Dalit woman was allegedly gang-raped and injured on September 14. A fortnight later, she succumbed to her injuries in a Delhi hospital.

The BJP government and administration faced flak for hurriedly cremating the woman at night in the absence of her family.