Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi during his visit to Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh on August 20.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said that crimes like the Badlapur sexual assault incident forces one to think “where are we heading as a society”.
In a social media post on X, Mr. Gandhi said “all governments and parties need to brainstorm on what steps should be taken to provide a safe environment for women”.
“After West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, the shameful crimes against young girls in Maharashtra also force us to think where are we heading as a society? After the crime against two innocents in Badlapur, the first step to give them justice was not taken until the public came out on the streets demanding justice,” the Congress leader said.
“Will we now have to protest to even register an FIR? Why has it become so difficult for victims to even go to the police station?” he asked.
On Tuesday, a large number of people blocked railway tracks in Badlapur town of Thane district and ransacked a school, where two kindergarten girls were allegedly sexually abused by an attendant last week.
Mr. Gandhi asserted that more efforts are made to cover up a crime than to provide justice, and the biggest victims of this are women and people from weaker sections.
“Not filing an FIR not only discourages the victims but also encourages the criminals. All governments, citizens and political parties will have to seriously brainstorm on what steps should be taken to provide a safe environment for women in the society,” he said.
“Justice is the right of every citizen and the citizen cannot be made dependent on the “will of the police and administration,” the Congress leader added.
In poll-bound Maharashtra, the issue has also acquired a political colour, with the constituents of the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) giving a call for bandh on August 24.
