Protest and politics over Dalit killing in Faridabad

Sanped in Haryana’s Faridabad, where a dalit family was burnt alive leading to the death of two toddlers, today erupted in grief and indignation, with the locals blocking Delhi-Agra highway with their bodies in protest as politicians joined them in mourning the horrific killings.

Villagers block a road during a protest against Sanped village incident in Faridabad on Wednesday (October 21). (Source: PTI)

As the the bodies of two-and-a-half-years-old Vaibhav and 11-month-old Divya, wrapped in white shrouds, arrived, the village, about 35 km from the national capital, plunged into grief. (Source: PTI)

Wailing soon gave way to anger and scores of villagers, walking hand in hand and shouting slogans, carried the bodies and placed them on the Delhi-Agra highway, blocking traffic. (Source: PTI)

As tempers ran high, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi visited the village where he accused the Prime Minister, Harayana Chief Minister, the BJP and RSS of practicising “politics of crushing” those who are weak which results in such incidents.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi meeting people at Sanped village where a dalit's house was set on fire allegedly by men belonging to the upper-caste community, in Ballabhgarh in Faridabad on Wednesday. (Source: PTI)

“This is an attitude shared by the Prime Minister, Chief Minister of the state and the entire BJP and RSS. The attidute is if somebody is weak, he can be crushed. What you have seen is the result of this attitude,” Gandhi said after meeting the distraught family members.

Rahul Gandhi during a visit to Sanped village in Ballabhgarh, Faridabad on Wednesday. (Source: PTI)

Asked whether he was doing politics over the incident, Rahul angrily retorted: “This is insulting when someone says it when someone comes here. It is not insulting to me. It is insulting to these people. What is a photo op. What you mean? People are dying. I will visit (such places) again, again and again.”

Rahul Gandhi visiting a dalit's house which was was set on fire allegedly by men belonging to the upper-caste community, in Ballabhgarh in Faridabad on Wednesday. (Source: PTI)

Top leaders of Grand Secular Alliance, Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad today launched a scathing attack on the NDA government over the death of two children in Faridabad who were set afire along with their parents allegedly by upper caste members.

Rahul Gandhi meeting Jitendra whose house was set on fire allegedly by men belonging to the upper-caste community, at Sanped village in Ballabhgarh in Faridabad on Wednesday. (Source: PTI)

While Vaibhav and his sister Divya had perished in the blaze allegedly set off by some upper caste people of the village who had a running feud with their family, their mother Rekha, 28, suffered serious burns and is battling for life in a Delhi hospital. Their father Jitender, 31, also received injuries while trying to save them.

Rahul Gandhi meeting Jitendra whose house was set on fire allegedly by men belonging to the upper-caste community, at Sanped village in Ballabhgarh in Faridabad on Wednesday. (Source: PTI)