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Rahul Gandhi to visit victims of attack by cow protectors in Gujarat today

by IBNS 21 Jul 2016, 11:32 am

New Delhi, July 21 (IBNS) : Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi will on Thursday visit the people from the Dalit community, who were stripped and thrashed by 'gau rakshaks' or self styled cow protectors in Gujarat's Una last week-an incident that had widespread ramification with violent protests and national outrage.

As the development has given a new twist to the national politics, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is also expected to visit the abused men tomorrow as leaders of most of the opposition parties have already condemned the "organised crimes" against Dalits.

Rahul Gandhi's visit comes a day after Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel called on the families of the victims. 

The men, said to be tannery workers, were stripped, tied to an SUV, flogged with iron rods and paraded by a crowd on  July 11 in Una.

The cow vigilantes uploaded the video online as a "warning", but it went viral evoking widespread condemnation and led to the arrest of eight attackers.

In an immediate reaction to the atrocity, more than a dozen young men have attempted suicide, vehicles have been burnt and highways have been blocked by Dalit groups in various Gujarat cities. 

The attack on Dalits and the violent backlash gave the opposition parties an opportunity to unite in Parliament and accuse the Narendra Modi Government of  allowing cow vigilante groups to terrorise Dalits in Gujarat.

In the face of a massive hostility, the  ruling BJP expelled a senior Uttar Pradesh leader, Dayashankar Singh, who was heard on camera making abusive remarks about Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati.