Rahul Gandhi visits families of Zubeen, Valmiki
· Seeks fair probe into Zubeen’s death
· Demands justice for Valmiki
NEW DELHI : Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi today visited the families of popular Assamese singer Zubeen Garg and a Dalit youth of Uttar Pradesh, Hariom Valmiki, who lost his life in mob lynching.
After paying homage to Zubeen Da, he met his family members also. He asked the government to probe his death transparently as people want to know the truth. In an informal interaction with reporters, he said, people who heard him and loved him want to know what happened.
“They want closure. It is the duty of the government to transparently investigate and tell the family what exactly happened”, he said, while adding, “I and the Congress party are there to support them in every possible way and we stand with them”.
Later, Gandhi wrote on ‘X’, “Zubeen Da was like Kanchenjunga – honest, unshakable, and beautiful. India and Assam have lost not just an artist, but a towering soul who touched countless hearts”.
“Zubeen Da’s family and the people of Assam deserve nothing less than truth and justice. The government must ensure a swift and transparent investigation”, he said, while adding, “I stand with his family in their grief, and offer my full support in every way possible”.
Gandhi also visited the family of Hariom Valmiki in Raebareli (Uttar Pradesh). He revealed that the UP government had tried to keep the family captive and was not allowing them to come out. He said the state government officials had even threatened them against meeting him.
“The brutal murder of Hariom Valmiki has shaken the conscience of the entire nation”, he said, while noting, “there was a question in the eyes of his family, filled with pain – Is being a Dalit in this country still a deadly crime?”
The Leader of Opposition alleged that the in Uttar Pradesh, the administration is busy intimidating the victim’s family. “They even tried to stop the family from meeting me. This is the same failure of the system – which every time becomes a shield for the culprits and puts the victim in the dock”, he added.
“Justice cannot be kept under house arrest. The BJP government should end the pressure on the victim’s family and ensure the strictest punishment for the guilty”, he said, while assuring that he firmly stood with Hariom Valmiki’s family and every exploited, deprived, and weak citizen of the country.
“This fight is not just for Hariom – it is for every voice that refuses to bow before injustice”, he remarked.
