The political camaraderie between Congress and JD(U) has been dwindling over the past few years.
Tejashwi Yadav’s protest march held in solidarity for the rape and trafficking of nearly three dozen girls in Bihar’s shelter home saw the attendence of most of opposition leaders on Saturday at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. Congress President Rahul Gandhi who was also a part of the protest march, launched a full frontal attack on Bihar CM Nitish Kumar. Gandhi blamed Nitish Kumar for merely condemning the act and not taking enough action against the perpetrators.
“If Nitish Kumar is really ashamed, he should quickly take action… Prove it by your work,” the Congress president said in a brief speech before the opposition leaders symbolically led a candle march to India Gate.
Rahul Gandhi added that the purpose of the march was to take up the issue of women safety seriously. “We stand with women of India, girls and their families who suffered in Muzaffarpur and elsewhere… And we will not step back an inch,” the Congress president said.
RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, brought the protests from Bihar to New Delhi in a bid to condemn the government led by Nitish Kumar in the state of Bihar over his inability to take action against Brajesh Thakur, the main accused in the Muzzafarpur Shelter Rapes.
According to NDTV Brajesh Thakur who ran several non-profits and even newspapers, had always managed to escape punishment as he was a part of the state’s most elite political coterie.
“This is the chacha (uncle) who talks of good governance,… I am ashamed too,” he said, taking credit for forcing the chief minister to spoke out for the first time on the rapes in state-funded homes meant to shelter.
Top politicians leaders who were a part of the march included Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s nominee Dinesh Trivedi, CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury, CPI’s D Raja and Atul Kumar Anjan, and Loktantrik Janata Dal leader Sharad Yadav.
Gandhi further underlined that the opposition was united for an issue that needed immediate police and judicial action.
“As you can see here, opposition is standing together…. This you will see more of it in coming days,” he said.
“These girls were placed in the shelter homes to protect them from evil…. But look what happened to them,” said Mr Yadav.
Also Read: Muzaffarpur Shelter Case: Tejashwi Yadav wants death for Brajesh Thakur