NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi on Friday met the family of Hariom Valmiki, the Dalit man who was lynched in his constituency, Raebareli. After meeting the family, the Congress leader made a big claim, saying the government threatened the victim’s family against meeting him. He said the Congress party will “try the best to provide all possible help to the family”, adding that wherever there will be “atrocities against Dalits in the country, Congress will be there and we will provide all possible help and fight for justice.”Valmiki (40) was allegedly lynched by villagers who mistook him for a thief during a night vigil at about 1 am on October 2 amid rumors that a gang was using drones for surveillance to mark houses for robberies.“This morning, the government threatened the family against meeting me… It’s not important whether the victims’ family meets me or not, but what is important is that these people are not criminals. They have committed no mistake… I met the deceased’s family and listened to them. Congress Party and I will try our best to provide all possible help to the family… Wherever there will be atrocities against Dalits in the country, Congress will be there and we will provide all possible help and fight for justice,” Rahul Gandhi told the press after meeting the Valmiki family.Referring to the suicide of a Haryana officer, Rahul Gandhi said: “A crime has been committed against them (Valmiki’s family), and it seems as if they are the criminals.”Rahul further claimed that the family was being threatened and was not allowed to go out of their house. “A Dalit officer committed suicide a few days ago. I went there, and today I have come here. The family did not commit the crime. A crime has been committed against them, and it seems as if they are the criminals. They are not being allowed to go out of their house,” the Congress leader said.He sought action against the perpetrators, urging the UP government that the accused “should not be protected”.“They are being threatened. All they are asking for is justice. Our son had been killed. The murder is recorded on video. We are asking for justice… There is a girl in there who needs to be operated on, but she is unable to get it done because the government has locked them in. Atrocities, murders and rapes are being committed against Dalits in the entire nation. I want to ask the CM that they should be served justice. They should be respected. Action should be taken against the perpetrators and they should not be protected,” the Reabareli MP said.
