Maya rushes to Etawah to pre-empt Rahul

Still, Gandhi’s visit has gained political significance. While Etawah is the home turf of former CM Mulayam Singh Yadav, the victims of the crime were Dalits, Mayawati’s “vote bank”.

Gandhi is scheduled to reach Ameenabad village on Saturday morning. Sources in the Congress said the visit was a part of the UPCC campaign to trace the disgruntled elements within the Dalit community and bring them into the party fold.

“Political parties have avoided Dalits on the plea that they are with Mayawati. We want to break the notion. With the BSP now appealing to the Sarva Samaj, it is a good time to attract the Dalits in view of the coming parliamentary elections,” said a party leader.

But the haste with which the Chief Minister decided to visit Etawah, indicates that the Congress move is not lost on her. “She does not want to give the impression that she is ignoring the Dalits,” said a senior Congress leader.

During the visit, Mayawati suspended Gyan Prakash, Station House Officer of Ikdil, under which Ameenabad village falls. With the criminals yet to be arrested, she assured prompt action and announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh.

But the CM failed to assure the survivors. Vishram Singh’s son-in-law Sarvesh Kumar said the politicians only wanted to woo the voters, “Who is bothered about the crime against us”.

The villagers said Mayawati had come to the village for the first time and that too because she wanted to upstage Rahul Gandhi. Suspending the SHO will not solve the problem, as the law and order situation has gone out of control, they said.