Will raise matter in Parliament, Rahul Gandhi tells kin of those killed in Rajkot gaming zone fire

In a video of the interaction released by Congress, Gandhi is heard saying: “We should apply full pressure so that it is done… There should be a fair and independent investigation and its outcome should be there as early as possible. I feel, by applying pressure, if we can increase the compensation, that will be good. If you wish, we can raise this in the Parliament. A session is going to start soon. We will raise this there and thus, there will be pressure from the House also.”

The state government has paid Rs 4 lakh to the kin of each victim of the fire and registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. It has arrested 15 people so far, including the game zone owners and RMC officials.

Investigation has revealed that TRP Game Zone, an indoor and outdoor gaming facility, didn’t have due clearance from the fire and emergency department nor its tin shed housing indoor gaming facilities had permission from the town planning department of the Rajkot Municipal Corporation.

Those who interacted with Gandhi said that he assured them of fighting on their behalf. “I told Rahul Gandhi that it has been almost a month since the incident of fire and I don’t feel that I will get justice. Gandhi said that he and his party will stand with us till the end,” Tushar Ghorecha (26) told The Indian Express.

Tushar’s younger brother Jayant (22), who used to run a paan shop, was killed in the fire after he went to the TRP Game Zone with his friends. Tushar, a carpenter, is the only earning member of his family after Jayant’s death.

Santosh Khathad (21), the elder sister of Asha Kathad (19), an employee of TRP Game Zone who died in the blaze, too got a chance to talk to Gandhi. “He asked what were my demands from the Gujarat government. I told him that the government has assessed the price of my sister’s life to be Rs 4 lakh and that we don’t have trust in officers who are investigating the incident. Gandhi told me that if needed, he will demand justice for us on the floor of Parliament,” said Santosh, who works in a mall and is now the sole breadwinner of a family of three.

State Congress working president Jignesh Mevani, Congress Seva Dal chief organiser Lalji Desai and Gujarat Kisan Congress chairman Pal Ambaliya have been camping in Rajkot for the last three weeks, mobilising families of the victims and the people of Rajkot.

The three led a three-day long hungerstrike early this month to demand justice for the victims. Congress has also given a call for a general strike on June 25, the first monthly anniversary of the blaze.

“Rahul Gandhi has instructed Congress to fight on behalf of victims’ families so that those killed in the incident get justice. He has told us that he fully backs our efforts,” Mevani, MLA from Vadgam, said.