Uttar Pradesh Congress in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam stated that the party delegation was obstructed and not allowed to meet the family of Lalita Gautam, the victim from Meerut. He mentioned that the Congress group, led by him and including senior leaders like Imran Masood, was halted at the Kashi toll plaza by the police. Despite assurances, they were denied permission to meet the family due to law and order concerns.
Rajendra Pal Gautam announced a gathering at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on July 27 to protest against the murder of the Dalit student Lalita Gautam and to demand justice for her. He urged for a financial compensation of Rs 1 crore for the victim’s family, a government job for a family member, and a swift investigation to bring the culprits to justice. He also criticized the conduct of the SSP and called for his suspension over alleged misconduct towards protesters.
The 20-year-old Lalita Gautam went missing from TP Nagar on May 15, and her body was discovered in the Rohta area two days later. The main accused, Ankush Kumar (23), was apprehended on May 18, while another person was arrested for tampering with evidence. This incident led to protests by the victim’s family and the community.
The Congress delegation that set out for Meerut included Lok Sabha MPs Imran Masood and Tanuj Punia, Rajya Sabha MP Karamveer Singh Bauddh, and AICC OBC Department chairman Anil Jaihind, among others. Earlier, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge accused the BJP government of neglecting the family’s plight, highlighting what he called the “anti-Dalit” stance of the ruling administration.
