Akhilesh Yadav sits on dharna
Lucknow: Samajwadi Party president and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav sat on a dharna outside the Vidhan Bhavan, here on Saturday, accusing the Yogi Adityanath government of failing the Unnao gangrape victim who was set on fire and died at a hospital in Delhi.
Terming the day as "Black Day", he demanded that the BJP government in the state be removed.
Accompanied by senior party leaders, Yadav squatted before the main entrance of the Vidhan Sabha and said his party will agitate against the government in all district headquarters.
"What help you have given to the family of the girl? Will you run your government in this manner?" Yadav asked.
"A government which is giving sorrow and creating difficulties. Our demand is that this government should be removed. The party will agitate for people, and in this regard the Samajwadi Party will hold 'shok sabha' (condolence meetings) in all district headquarters. It will be in memory of all the daughters, who had lost their lives," he told reporters.
The 23-year-old woman was set on fire by five people, including two men accused of raping her, on Thursday morning when she was going to Rae Bareli to attend a court hearing. She suffered 90 per cent burn injuries and was airlifted to Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital for treatment but died late Friday night. Her body was taken to her village by road on Saturday.
CM Adityanath has termed her death "extremely sad". He said in a statement that all the accused have been arrested and the case will be tried in a fast-track court and punishment will be served. But Yadav said the victim could not be saved despite efforts.
"We will continue to fight for the honour of the daughters. Despite efforts, the victim could not be saved. A daughter who is demanding justice, is unable to get it. This is a Black Day for us," he said.
Attacking the Adityanath government, he referred to a previous rape case in Unnao in which BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar was made an accused. The victim in the 2017 case tried to immolate herself outside the residence of the chief minister, alleging police inaction in the matter.
