The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Uttar Pradesh): The Congress party has launched a scathing critique of the Uttar Pradesh government, led by the BJP, alleging that the state has become a breeding ground for unchecked criminal activity and targeted hate crimes against Dalits. This condemnation comes in the wake of a tragic incident involving the death of Sumesh Kumar, a 17-year-old Dalit boy, who sustained fatal gunshot wounds during a confrontation sparked by the installation of a hoarding featuring Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. The altercation, which also left two others injured, occurred in Rampur, marking a grim reflection of the state’s deteriorating law and order situation.
In light of the incident, Congress’s general secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, vehemently criticized the state’s governance, or what he termed as “jungle raj,” under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s leadership. Ramesh articulated the party’s distress over the continuous emergence of lawlessness and the apparent indifference of the Yogi administration towards the plight of the Dalit community, accusing it of harboring an anti-Dalit bias.
Further exacerbating concerns, Rajesh Lilothia, Chairman of the SC Department, denounced the Uttar Pradesh government for its alleged complicity in the violence, particularly criticizing the state police’s aggressive response to the Dalit community during the hoarding installation in Rampur’s Silai Baragaon village. The Congress party has also expressed alarm over the rapid cremation of Sumesh Kumar’s body by UP Police, drawing parallels to the controversial handling of the Hathras case in 2020, suggesting an attempt to obliterate evidence.
The Congress has called upon the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) to ensure swift justice for Sumesh Kumar under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The party’s demands underscore a pressing need for accountability and reforms to protect Dalits and uphold the rule of law in Uttar Pradesh, reflecting a broader critique of the state’s governance amid escalating tensions and societal divisions.
