Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday launched a sharp critique against the authorities for the forcible removal of the Unnao rape survivor from India Gate in New Delhi. The survivor was protesting the Delhi High Court's decision to grant bail and suspend the life sentence of the convict, former BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar.
Gandhi's Strong Rebuke on Social Media
Taking to social media platform X, Gandhi posed pointed questions about the treatment of the survivor. "Is such treatment of a gang rape survivor appropriate? Is her 'fault' that she has the courage to raise her voice for justice?" he wrote. He described the high court's order as both 'disappointing' and 'shameful'.
The Congress MP further escalated his criticism, linking the incident to a broader societal decay. "Bail for rapists and treating survivors like criminals—what kind of justice is this?" Gandhi asked. He added that India is not just a 'dead economy' but is also becoming a 'dead society.' The 'dead economy' remark was a reference to his earlier endorsement of a jibe made by former US President Donald Trump.
The Legal Background of the Case
The case dates back to June 2017 when the crime was committed by Kuldeep Sengar. After a trial that was shifted from Uttar Pradesh to Delhi by the Supreme Court, Sengar was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in December 2019.
On Tuesday, the Delhi High Court granted conditional bail to Sengar and suspended his life sentence for the duration of the pendency of his appeal challenging the conviction. This legal move prompted the survivor to stage a protest at India Gate, leading to her subsequent removal by authorities.
A Call for Democratic Rights and Justice
In his statement, Rahul Gandhi, the MP from Raebareli, emphasized the fundamental rights in a democracy. "In a democracy, raising a voice of dissent is a right, and suppressing it is a crime," he asserted. He argued that the survivor is entitled to "respect, safety, and justice" instead of "helplessness, fear, and injustice."
The incident has sparked a fresh debate on the treatment of sexual assault survivors within the judicial and law enforcement systems, highlighting concerns about victim protection and the message sent by granting bail to a convict in a high-profile rape case.
